Manhattan prosecutors unsealed the indictment against New York City Mayor Eric Adams, the first against a sitting NYC mayor.

The 57-page indictment accuses the Democrat mayor of conspiracy, wire fraud and bribery charges.

“In 2014, Eric Adams, the defendant, became Brooklyn Borough President. Thereafter, for nearly a decade, Adams 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,” the indictment reads.

“By 2018, Adams – who had by then made known his plans to run for Mayor of New York City – not only accepted, but sought illegal campaign contributions to his 2021 Mayoral campaign, as well as other things of value, from foreign nationals,” it continued.

“As Adams’s prominence and power grew, his foreign-national benefactors sought to cash in on their corrupt relationships with him, particularly when, in 2021, it became clear that Adams would become New York City’s mayor,” it added.

BREAKING.

New York City Mayor Eric Adams’ federal indictment has been *UNSEALED.*

Mayor Adams is being charged with accepting bribes from “wealthy foreign business people,” including “at least one Turkish government official.”

He is also accused of campaign finance fraud. pic.twitter.com/Weoe9zIpzw

— Kyle Becker (@kylenabecker) September 26, 2024

From the New York Post:

Prior to the indictment coming down, sources had revealed the charges were likely connected to allegations the Turkish government had illegally funneled money into Adams’ mayoral campaign in exchange for approval of the Turkish consulate in Manhattan.

“Eric Adams the defendant, sought and accepted illegal campaign contributions in the form of “nominee” or “straw” contributions, meaning that the true contributors conveyed their money through nominal donors, who falsely certified they were contributing their own money,” the indictment states.

“By smuggling their contributions to Adams through U.S.-based straw donors, Adams’s overseas contributors defeated federal laws that serve to prevent foreign influence on U.S. elections.”

It wasn’t immediately clear when Adams would have to appear in court in the wake of the indictment. Sources had earlier told The Post he wasn’t expected to turn himself in until early next week.

The court filing dropped shortly before US Attorney for the Southern District of New York, Damian Williams, was slated to hold an 11.30 a.m. news conference to announce “significant public corruption charges.”

INDICTMENT AGAINST ERIC ADAMS UNSEALED pic.twitter.com/M0IAHj3QKh

— NYC Bike Lanes (@NYCBikeLanes) September 26, 2024

The five counts against Adams are the following:

1. Conspiracy to Commit Wire Fraud, Federal Program Bribery, and to Receive Campaign Contributions By Foreign Nationals
2. Wire Fraud
3. Solicitation of a Contribution by a Foreign National
4. Solicitation of a Contribution by a Foreign National
5. Bribery

Federal Indictment against #NewYork Mayor Eric Adams unsealed

Count 1: Conspiracy to Commit Wire Fraud, Federal Program Bribery, and to Receive Campaign Contributions By Foreign Nationals

Count 2: Wire Fraud

Count 3: Solicitation of a Contribution by a Foreign National

Count…

— Susan Li (@SusanLiTV) September 26, 2024

Per CNBC:

Much of the indictment filed in U.S. District Court in Manhattan centers on the Turkish community and Turkish businessmen who allegedly exerted influence on Adams.

The indictment says a “senior official in the Turkish diplomatic establishment” facilitated illegal campaign donations to Adams, and also arranged for the mayor and his companions to receive free or discounted travel on Turkey’s national airline, which is owned in large part by that country’s government, to France, China, Sri Lanka, India, Hungary and Turkey.

In September 2021, the indictment alleges, the Turkish official told Adams “that it was his turn to repay” that official by pressuring the New York City Fire Department to facilitate the opening of a new Turkish consulate building, which is 36-stories-tall, “without a fire inspection, in time for a high-profile visit by Turkey’s president.”

“At the time, the building would have failed an FDNY inspection,” the indictment says.

Adams “did as he was instructed,” and an FDNY official “was told that he would lose his job if he failed to acquiesce,” the indictment says.

The building then opened as requested, according to the indictment.

“I look forward to defending myself and defending the people of this city, as I’ve done throughout my entire professional career,” Adams said outside Gracie Mansion while flanked by supporters, after the indictment was unsealed in U.S. District Court in Manhattan.

Read the full indictment HERE.

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This is a Guest Post from our friends over at 100 Percent Fed Up.

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