NYC Mayor Eric Adams pleads not guilty as he faces 45 years in prison on corruption charges: Live updates
The Democrat is the first sitting mayor in New York City modern history to face criminal charges
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New York City Mayor Eric Adams has pleaded not guilty to federal charges of bribery, wire fraud, solicitation of contribution by a foreign national, and conspiracy.
Adams entered his plea at Manhattan federal court on Friday afternoon. He is the first sitting mayor in the city's modern history to face federal criminal charges.
US Attorneys in the Southern District of New York on Thursday unveiled a sprawling five-count indictment against Adams, accusing him of seeking and accepting “illegal campaign contributions to his 2021 mayoral campaign, as well as other things of value, from foreign nationals.”
The charges stem from a months-long federal investigation into his 2021 mayoral campaign and his ties to Turkish government officials and Turkish nationals.
Federal prosecutors are accusing Adams of accepting “illegal” campaign donations, funneled through a straw donor scheme, and accepting luxurious benefits in exchange for wielding his power to intervene in a fire inspection at the Turkey consulate.
Adams said he was “not surprised” by the charges and denied all allegations of wrongdoing.
He declared he would not step down from his position as the top official in New York City, despite current and former lawmakers calling upon him to resign.
What are the official charges?
Count one: Conspiracy to commit wire fraud, federal program bribery, and to receive campaign contributions by foreign nationals
Count two: Wire fraud
Count three and four: Solicitation of a contribution by a foreign national
Count five: Bribery
Adams lawyers request arraignment dates
Mayor Eric Adams’ lawyer, Alex Spiro, asked the judge overseeing the case Dale Ho for the first appearance to take place on either Friday or Monday, according to a court document.
Adams ‘changed’ his phone password and ‘forgot’ it day before FBI raid
The indictment alleges that Adams changed his behavior to conceal his criminal activity upon learning he was being investigated, which included changing the password to his phone and then forgetting it the day before federal agents seized it.
On November 5, 2023, Adams changed his personal cellphone’s password and “increased the complexity of his password from four digits to six.”
On November 6, 2023, federal agents executed a search warrant to obtain Adams’ electronic devices.
He told investigators he did so to prevent his employees from inadvertently or intentionally deleting the contents of his phone so it would be well-preserved for investigators.
But Adams then claimed he had “forgotten” the password he just created and was unable to provide the FBI with it.
Businessman in alleged straw donor scheme benefitted from Adams
A wealthy businessman who reimbursed his employees to give Adams’ 2021 mayoral campaign $10,000, personally benefitted from that when Adams agreed to get a stop-work order lifted for his construction company.
According to federal prosecutors, the businessman asked Adams to assist in getting the work order lifted in February 2023 saying, “I always supported you.”
A week after the businessman inquired, he texted Adams thanking him for his help in “partially” resolving the process.
Adams flew Turkish Airline even when it was ‘inconvenient’
The mayor of New York allegedly accepted multiple free business class tickets on Turkish Airline between 2016 and 2017 and as a result flew Turkish Airline, “even when doing so was otherwise inconvenient”.
Federal prosecutors say that during the summer of 2017, Adams’ then-partner was “surprised” to learn Adams was in Turkey when he was supposed to be going from New York to France.
“You know the first stop is always istanbul,” Adams wrote to his partner in a text message, according to prosecutors.
Who are the other people mentioned in the indictment?
There are several unnamed individuals in the federal indictment accused of assisting or participating in the straw donor scheme or the lavish travel benefits from a Turkey official.
The Turkish Official – the individual who allegedly “steered” illegal contributions and improper gifts to Adams.
The Promoter – the person who allegedly “arranged” straw contributions for both of Adams’ mayoral campaigns and favorable treatment in Turkey in 2017 and 2019.
The Businessman – the owner and chairman of a Turkish University who allegedly made illegal contributions to Adams’ 2021 campaign and sought to befriend Adams for his use.
The Adams Staffer – a volunteer at Brooklyn Borough Hall who served as a “Liasion to Eastern Europe Muslim Countries” and later became a City Hall staffer who allegedly “coordinated” illegal campaign contributions and improper travel benefits.
The Businesswoman – a weather Turkish businesswoman who allegedly gave Adams “multiple” free to discounted stays in a luxury hotel she owned. She also organized contributions to Adams’ 2021 campaign.
‘Your turn’: Turkish officials asked Adams to influence FDNY inspection
After allegedly accepting hundreds of thousands of dollars in benefits from Turkish nationals, the Turkish official accused of colluding with him, asked him for help circumventing a fire department inspection issue with the Turkey consulate in New York.
Federal prosecutors say in September 2021, the official said it was “his turn to repay” and help facilitate the opening of the 36-story Turkey consulate skyscraper.
The building, at the time, had failed a fire inspection.
But Adams allegedly “pressured” FDNY officials to get the building open. Those in charge of the building’s assessment were told they would lose their jobs if they did not comply.
In Photos: Eric Adams after being indicted on five federal counts
Mayor Eric Adams did not appear bothered by a five-count federal criminal indictment on Thursday morning as he stood before reporters to speak about the charges.
Adams denied all allegations of wrongdoing and urged New Yorkers to allow him a day in court before passing judgment.
US Attorney says Adams has a ‘long running’ history of corruption
US Attorney Damien Williams said in a press conference on Thursday that Adams has a “long-running” history of corruption and accepted lavish benefits from Turkish nationals and in turn intervened in a New York City Fire Department fire inspection for the Turkey consulate.
Williams said Adams “Sought and accepted well over $100,000 in luxury travel benefits” and did not disclose any of it.
As a result, those Turkish nationals were able to influence Adams – like allegedly using him to help get the Turkey consulate open even though it did not pass its fire inspection.
That includes luxury hotel rooms and travel benefits to various countries like Turkey, Ghana and Pakistan.
Watch: Eric Adams says he 'followed the law' after being charged with bribery and corruption
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