New York Mayor Eric Adams filled his campaign coffers with illegal foreign political contributions and traveled the world with Turkish money without disclosing the free perks, federal prosecutors said Thursday in a statement. stunning accusation against the leader of the largest city in the USA.
Adams, a Democrat, received more than 100,000 dollars as secret benefits, incl free Turkish airline flights and hotel staysfor about a decade, according to the 57-page indictment released Thursday. Adams took steps to try to cover up the privileges, including creating false documents and deleting messages with employees involved in the conduct, prosecutors said. He faces five criminal charges, including bribery, fraud and soliciting contributions from a foreign national.
“This was a multi-year scheme to buy the favor of a single emerging New York politician: Eric Adams,” said Damian Williams, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York.
“Waiting to hear the defense”
Adams, 64, urged New Yorkers not to believe prosecutors’ narrative. “I ask New Yorkers to wait to hear our defense before making any judgments,” he said. “From now on my lawyers will handle the case so I can take care of the city.”
Although other New York City mayors have faced corruption-related investigations, Adams is the city’s first sitting mayor to be indicted in modern history. His administration faces at least four federal investigations, and in recent weeks top aides — including the police chief, schools superintendent and chief counselor — announced their resignations.
Your course
Adams took office in 2022 after running a centrist campaign focused on combating crime in the city. He had a more than 20-year career in law enforcement, including a stint as New York City’s police chief. He is running for re-election next year.
Adams did favors for some donors, who saw him as a promising ally and believed he could one day become president, prosecutors said. At the request of a Turkish official who helped provide luxury travel, Adams in 2021 helped facilitate the opening of a 36-story Turkish consulate building without a fire inspection, prosecutors said. Adams also stopped working with a community center affiliated with a political movement hostile to the Turkish government, according to the indictment. On another occasion, Adams agreed not to make any statements about the Armenian Genocide as mayor.
To France… via Türkiye
On a trip that included stops in France, Turkey and China, Adams received three free round-trip business class tickets, as well as a deeply discounted suite stay at the St. Regis Istanbul, according to the indictment.
Adams he flew with Turkish Airlines because of the free tickets, even when it was not convenient for him, according to prosecutors. In the summer of 2017, Adams’ partner was surprised to learn that he had flown to Turkey, eventually heading to France, the indictment said.
The mayor never disclosed the benefits on mandatory financial disclosure forms as an elected councilman, prosecutors said.
According to the indictment, Adams began developing relationships with Turkish citizens a year after becoming Brooklyn Borough President in 2014 and sought illegal contributions from them until 2023. Donations from foreign nationals were funneled through individuals in the U.S. to appear to have been legal, according to prosecutors. As part of the scheme, he relied on a city campaign finance program that provides public funds to candidates designed to raise small donations, the indictment says.
Since taking office, the mayor he rejected scrutiny of his ties to people who had previous run-ins with the law. He proudly described mentoring from a bishop with a criminal record and openly mocked two restaurant owners who were convicted of a crime. His deputy mayor for public safety, Philip Banks, was an unindicted co-conspirator in a previous federal corruption investigation.
Adams said he believes in giving people a second chance.
Minor and major corruption cases
At the same time, his campaign and administration were involved in large and small cases of corruption. Several donors have been indicted in circles involving illegal political donations. Last year, the city’s former Department of Buildings commissioner was charged in state court with bribery in exchange for using his position to provide favors to associates.
Earlier this year, federal prosecutors charged charges against 70 current and former employees New York public housing agency for accepting illegal payments in exchange for subcontracting work.
Last week, two former New York fire chiefs were accused of accepting tens of thousands of dollars in bribes in exchange for speeding up safety inspections.
Since news of the indictment broke Wednesday night, Adams has faced growing calls for his resignation, including from nearly two dozen council members. City Auditor Brad Lander, a Democrat running against Adams in next year’s primary, said the case would divert Adams from city administration.
“The most appropriate path forward is for him to resign so that New York City can have the full focus that his leadership demands,” Lander said in a statement.
Source: WSJ