By outdoor-nature-child.com Federal prosecutors have initiated serious legal action against New York City Mayor Eric Adams, bringing five charges against him, which include bribery and the illegal acceptance of foreign campaign donations. Prosecutor Damien Williams outlined these allegations in a detailed presentation on the 26th, indicating that Adams is accused of improperly influencing fire safety inspections for a Turkish community center and accepting bribes. If convicted on all counts, Adams could face a maximum sentence of 45 years, making him the first sitting mayor in the city’s history to confront federal charges.
Early on the 26th, federal agents executed a surprise search at Gracie Mansion, Adams’ residence located in Manhattan’s Upper East Side, where they seized his mobile phone. The search reportedly lasted over three hours. Adams’ attorney Alex Spiro condemned the raid, calling it an “intentional disruption,” adding that Adams was already prepared to provide the requested materials.
The allegations against Adams trace back to his time as Brooklyn Borough President. Just ahead of the indictment’s release, Adams shared a two-and-a-half-minute video on the 25th, staunchly denying the allegations, which he labeled as “false.” According to court documents, he is set to appear in federal court for arraignment on the 27th.
The 57-page indictment presents several grave charges, including the acceptance of campaign contributions from foreign nationals, wire fraud, and bribery. The potential repercussions vary, with up to five years for foreign contributions, up to 20 years for wire fraud, and as much as ten years for bribery. Prosecutors assert that Adams’ alleged misconduct began in 2014 during his tenure as borough president and persisted into his time as mayor.
The indictment claims that Adams started soliciting and accepting improper benefits in 2014, including travel expenses funded by Turkish government officials. For example, during a trip to Istanbul in the summer of 2017, Adams stayed in a suite at the Ritz-Carlton that typically costs about $7,000 for two nights but reportedly paid less than $600. He is also accused of receiving over $100,000 in gifts and attempting to destroy evidence to create the impression that he covered his expenses independently.
As the situation escalated, particularly following his victory in the Democratic primary in July 2021, Adams was approached by then-Turkish Consul General in New York, Reyhan Özgür, who sought his help with a new consulate building in Manhattan where fire officials had raised safety concerns. Adams allegedly contacted Daniel Nigro, the city’s fire commissioner at the time, regarding the approval process and requested to bypass fire inspections. Officials present claimed they faced termination threats if they did not comply with Adams’ requests. At a press conference, Adams previously characterized his interactions with the fire commissioner as routine and denied any allegations of pressure or quid pro quo.
Prosecutors assert that Adams also utilized “straw donations” to disguise the illegal origins of his campaign funds and leveraged public matching funds to enhance his contributions. Reports indicate that businesswoman Hu Weihong had improprieties linking her with Adams’ campaign team, influencing municipal contracts and regulations. However, a city representative later maintained that Adams was unaware of these events.
As a 64-year-old serving mayor since January 2022, Adams has focused on tackling crime and revitalizing New York City. Nevertheless, he has faced criticism regarding his management of immigration challenges and subway safety. Previously referring to himself as “Brooklyn’s Biden,” he has recently critiqued the Biden administration’s immigration strategies.
With the unprecedented situation of being the first sitting mayor in New York City to face indictment, Adams is embarking on uncharted legal territory. If he were to be arrested, there are no established protocols for how to proceed. Should he resign, Public Advocate Jumaane Williams would succeed him in the mayoral office.
Governor Kathy Hochul has the authority to remove Adams from his position, though such action is historically rare. Alternatively, under the city charter, Adams could be removed by the “Inability Committee,” which is composed of the city’s chief legal advisor (currently vacant), city comptroller Brad Lander, city council speaker Adrienne Adams, and the longest-serving borough president. Adams has asserted that he will vigorously contest the charges against him and has no intention of resigning.