New York Mayor Eric Adams pleaded not guilty Friday to fraud and bribery charges in a case that marks a stunning fall for a man who was once considered a future Democratic Party star.
Adams, who appeared before a judge in Manhattan federal court, is the first sitting New York mayor to be criminally convicted.
He is accused of wire fraud, soliciting illegal campaign donations and a bribery conspiracy involving Turkish citizens and at least one Turkish official. Judge Katherine Parker scheduled the next hearing for Wednesday.
The allegations have led to calls for his resignation, but Adams said Thursday that he “looks forward to defending himself” and urging New Yorkers to “wait to hear our side of the story.”
Flanked by aides, the 64-year-old mayor made no comment to waiting reporters Friday, but gave a thumbs-up as he entered the courthouse. He wore a dark blue suit and a purple tie.
“I am not guilty, your honor,” he said in court.
In presenting charges Thursday, U.S. District Attorney Damien Williams said the mayor had been “secretly showered with gifts” for years.
“The conduct alleged in the indictment – foreign money, corporate money, hidden for many years – is a serious violation of the public trust,” Williams told reporters.
luxury travel
The 57-page document accuses the mayor of America’s largest city of crimes that occurred a decade ago, when Adams, a Democrat, took over as Brooklyn borough president.
According to the allegations, he accepted luxury international flights, hotel suites and free high-end restaurant meals in exchange for favors, including from Turkish associates.
In one example, prosecutors say Adams pressured the city’s fire department to approve Turkey’s new high-rise consulate in Manhattan despite safety concerns.
“The Turkish official got what he wanted, and as we reported in the indictment, just four days after Adams ended the bargain, he went back to demand more travel benefits,” Williams said.
The scandal has swirled around Adams for months and led to several high-ranking aides resigning as others were charged or raided by federal agents.
The drama increased further with the raid at his official residence early on Thursday.
Some city and state officials have called for him to resign, including influential New York Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, who said Adams must step down “for the good of the city.”
The impeachment threatens to embarrass Democrats, who are facing a tough race just weeks before the presidential election between Vice President Kamala Harris and Republican Donald Trump.
Adams, the second Black mayor in the city’s history, won the 2021 Democratic primary by promising to reduce crime, which had declined after rising during the COVID pandemic.
But the city of 8.5 million people is facing a housing crisis, causing rents to skyrocket. Adams is up for re-election next year.
(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)