In what was described a sweeping indictment, the mayor of New York City in the United States, Eric Adams, has been charged with five counts related to improper campaign contributions.
According to ABC News reports, a sweeping indictment unsealed on Thursday morning detailed that “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.”
It alleged that “as a result of those false certifications, Adams’ 2021 mayoral campaign received more than $10,000,000 in public funds.”
The charges against Adams included one count of wire fraud, one count of conspiracy, two counts of solicitation of a contribution from a foreign national, and one count of bribery, exposing him to significant prison time if convicted.
Prosecutors state that Adams accepted over $100,000 in improper benefits, which were not disclosed as required.
Addressing the press shortly after the indictment was unsealed, Adams maintained his innocence and vowed to contest the charges.
“I ask New Yorkers to hear our defence before making any judgments,” he said during a news conference interrupted by hecklers.
He affirmed his commitment to his duties, stating, “My day-to-day will not change.”
Surrounded by supporters, Adams later took questions from reporters, saying, “Everyone who knows me knows I follow campaign rules and I follow the law,” he asserted.
His lawyer, Alex Spiro, said, “We have known for some time that they would try to find a way to bring a case against Mayor Adams.
”Yesterday, more improper leaks. Today, they emailed us a summons and created the spectacle of a bogus raid.”
Spiro further criticized the prosecutors, saying, “Federal judges call them out all the time for spinning in front of the cameras and tainting jurors. We will see them in court.”
The indictment discusses Adams’ dealings with wealthy foreign business people and Turkish officials, indicating that the alleged conduct occurred during his tenure as Brooklyn borough president and continued into his time as mayor.
“In 2014, Eric Adams, the defendant, became Brooklyn Borough President. Thereafter, for nearly a decade, Adam sought and accepted improper valuable benefits,” it stated, detailing luxury international travel funded by foreign nationals seeking to influence him.
The indictment also claims that “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.”
It alleges that Adams provided favorable treatment in exchange for these illicit benefits.
Federal agents seized Adams’ phone on Thursday morning, as confirmed by Spiro, who noted, “He has not been arrested and looks forward to his day in court.”
Adams characterized the accusations as ‘entirely false’ in a taped speech to New Yorkers, pledging to fight the indictment with ‘every ounce of my strength and my spirit.’
He declared he would not resign from his position, stating, “I always knew that if I stood my ground for all of you, that I would be a target and a target I became.”
