A federal grand jury has indicted New York City Mayor Eric Adams on five counts of corruption tied to alleged campaign finance violations, including conspiracy, wire fraud, and bribery.
The indictment, unsealed by Manhattan prosecutors on Thursday, alleges Adams accepted bribes in exchange for political favors for foreign authorities. Prosecutors believe that the mayor was also involved in a systematic effort to fraudulently secure $10 million in public campaign funds by exploiting the city’s matching funds program, which matches small-dollar donations.
The indictment lists five criminal charges, including conspiracy to commit wire fraud, solicitation of foreign contributions, and bribery. If convicted, Adams could spend up to 45 years in federal prison. As of now, it remains unclear when the mayor will appear in court to respond to the charges. Early reports suggest he may not turn himself in until next week.
According to court documents, Adams’ involvement in the scandal began in 2014 when he became Brooklyn Borough President. From that point forward, as described in the 57-page indictment, Adams allegedly “sought and accepted improper valuable benefits, such as luxury international travel, including from wealthy foreign businesspeople and at least one Turkish government official seeking to gain influence over him.”
In one such instance, Turkish officials allegedly funneled money into the would-be mayor’s campaign with the expectation that he would expedite approval for the construction of the Eurasian country’s newly built consulate, the Turkevi Center, in Midtown Manhattan. While the project had been in the works for years, it allegedly received fast-track approval in 2021 after Adams took office in spite of safety concerns by the FDNY.
In exchange, Adams and his associates allegedly enjoyed a range of high-end perks: the mayor reportedly received free or deeply discounted flights to destinations such as France, China, Sri Lanka, India, Hungary, and Turkiye operated by the state-owned carrier Turkish Airlines. Notably, Adams allegedly paid just $600 for a luxury suite in Istanbul’s St. Regis hotel, a room that normally costs upwards of $7,000.
To cover his tracks, Adams allegedly resorted to creating a “fake paper trail” designed to give the appearance that he had personally covered the costs of the trips. The court filings also indicate that Adams deleted incriminating text messages and ensured that conversations with co-conspirators would leave no paper trail.
“He told the public he received no gifts, even after he was being showered with them,” Williams stated in a press conference on Thursday, characterizing the findings as “a multi-year scheme to buy favor with a politician on the rise.”
The indictment marks a watershed moment in New York City’s history as Adams becomes the first sitting mayor to be criminally indicted.
In a video statement released shortly after the news broke, Adams categorically denied any wrongdoing as he framed the indictment as a politically motivated attack for his outspoken criticism of federal immigration policies.
“This is not about campaign finance—it’s about silencing those who stand up for New York City,” Adams said, referencing his repeated clashes with the Biden administration over the handling of the city’s migrant crisis. “I have stood firm for the people of New York, and because of that, I have become a target.”
In the early hours of Thursday, a group of nearly a dozen federal agents carrying briefcases and large bags were seen at Gracie Mansion, the official mayoral residence, in order to conduct a search of the premises. Several vehicles, including at least two SUVs with placards identifying them as belonging to federal law enforcement, were spotted outside the mansion.
Adams’ tenure as mayor has been fraught with multiple crises, from a surge in crime to mounting public pressure over his administration’s handling of the influx of asylum seekers. Since taking office, he has often positioned himself as a tough-talking pragmatist, determined to restore law and order after the perceived failures of the de Blasio era.
A former NYPD captain, he campaigned on a platform of bolstering public safety while supporting police reform, successfully tapping into voter anxiety over rising crime rates and the economic fallout from the COVID-19 pandemic. However, his administration has also been dogged by accusations of cronyism and ethical lapses, with his close ties to influential donors and business leaders raising concerns about potential conflicts of interest.
Progressive lawmakers have been quick to call for Adams’ resignation. U.S. Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, who has often clashed with the mayor on issues ranging from housing to police funding, was one of the most vocal.
“The gravity of these allegations is undeniable. For the good of New York City, Adams must resign,” she said in a statement. “We cannot afford for this administration to be paralyzed by scandal while New Yorkers continue to face enormous challenges.”
City Council members, local activists, and political commentators have all weighed in, with many expressing concern that the indictment will become a major distraction at a time when the city desperately needs leadership. Others, however, have rallied to Adams’ defense, arguing that he is being unfairly targeted and that his administration should be given the opportunity to prove its case in court.
If convicted, Adams could face significant prison time and a swift end to his political career, effectively derailing his attempt to run again for another term in 2025. But even if he manages to avoid a conviction, the damage to his reputation could be irreparable.
