Prosecutors accuse Mayor Eric Adams of accepting over $100,000 in gifts, like free luxury travel, in exchange for political favors since 2014|Anthony Quintano|CC BY 2.0
New York City Mayor Eric Adams faces five federal charges, including bribery, wire fraud, and soliciting illegal campaign contributions from foreign nationals, reveals the indictment documents unsealed on Thursday.
Prosecutors accuse Adams of accepting over $100,000 in gifts, like free luxury travel from Turkish officials, in exchange for political favors since 2014, during his time as Brooklyn Borough president.
They claim he sought illegal campaign donations for his 2021 mayoral run and planned to solicit more for future elections. The indictment also alleges that Adams tried to cover up his actions by creating a false paper trail about his travels and deleting incriminating text messages.
Adams denies the charges, claiming innocence. He asserted he won’t resign. If convicted, he could face up to 45 years in prison.
Meanwhile, high-profile figures like Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez are calling for his resignation. NY Governor Kathy Hochul and Attorney General Letitia James expressed concern. Hochul said Adams should take time to consider his next steps.
The investigation into Adams’ professional dealings has also led to three top city officials resigning and further scrutiny of his administration.