New York City Mayor Eric Adams is facing five federal charges, including wire fraud, bribery, and solicitation of contributions by a foreign national, according to a 57-page federal indictment. Prosecutors allege that Adams accepted luxury international travel from wealthy foreign businesspeople and a Turkish government official in exchange for official favors since 2017 when he was Brooklyn Borough President. Adams accepted discounted stays at luxury hotels, free travel on Turkey’s national airline, expensive meals, and entertainment. He allegedly kept fake paper trails and deleted messages to conceal his misconduct. The indictment also accuses Adams of pressuring the New York City Fire Department to allow a Turkish consular building to open despite safety concerns in exchange for gifts. Adams received illegal campaign contributions from foreign donors, including the Turkish government official. The mayor has vowed to fight the charges, while calls for his resignation have grown. However, prominent politicians like Sen. Chuck Schumer and Gov. Kathy Hochul have not yet called for Adams to step down. Adams’ administration has faced multiple federal probes, including investigations into campaign fundraising and public corruption. Despite the ongoing investigations, Adams maintains that the charges against him are false and that he was elected to lead the city.
Photo credit
www.nbcnews.com
Eric Adams, Mayor of NYC, accused of bribery and wire fraud in a scheme lasting almost a decade
