New York City Mayor Eric Adams faces federal charges of conspiracy, wire fraud and bribery in a five-count indictment.
The indictment accuses Adams of allegedly selling his influence by accepting illegal campaign contributions and lavish trips from Turkish officials and businesspeople.
The big picture: The allegations include Adams receiving over $100,000 in free and discounted flight upgrades, opulent hotel stays, expensive meals, and campaign contributions from straw donors to help him qualify for more than $10 million in matching public campaign funds.
- Prosecutors claim that in exchange for these bribes, Adams took actions that appeared to favor Turkish leaders, such as expediting a fire safety inspection at a consulate building and refraining from releasing a statement on Armenian Genocide Remembrance Day.
- Despite the charges, Adams vehemently denies any wrongdoing and has stated that he has no intention of resigning from his position as mayor.
Driving the news: The indictment marks the culmination of federal investigations that have ensnared not only Adams but also several of his top aides, leading to resignations from positions such as police commissioner, schools chancellor, and top legal adviser.
- While some individuals, including Republicans and some of Adams’ potential opponents in upcoming mayoral primaries, have called for his resignation, top Democrats like Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer and House Democratic leader Hakeem Jeffries have maintained that the legal process should be allowed to proceed.
- Governor Kathy Hochul has the authority to remove Adams from office if needed, and she has indicated that she is evaluating the situation to ensure the residents of New York City are being well-served by their leaders.
What we’re watching: If Adams were to resign, he would be replaced by Jumaane Williams, the city’s public advocate, who would then have the responsibility of scheduling a special election.
