The 57-page indictment laid out the five federal counts the mayor faces, which include wire fraud, bribery and solicitation of a contribution by a foreign national. Prosecutors accuse Adams of seeking and accepting luxury international travel from a wealthy businessman and at least one Turkish government official, all of it happening over the course of a decade. Adams and his attorney denied all wrongdoing. NBC new York’s Jonathan Dienst, Andrew Siff, Chris Glorioso and Melissa Colorado have team coverage.
Eric Adams became the first sitting New York City mayor in modern history to face criminal prosecution on Thursday.
Adams is accused of improper benefits and illegal campaign contributions, fraudulent matching funds claims, concealment of travel benefits and corrupt favor for foreign benefactor, according to the document unsealed this morning. The U.S. attorney’s office in Manhattan alleges in the indictment that Adams “compounded his gains” from the illegal contributions by gaming the city’s matching funds program, which provides a generous match for small dollar donations.
The mayor, who is tied up in a multitude of ongoing investigations, has denied wrongdoing or knowledge of wrongdoing. His lawyer says his client awaits his day in court.
The historic federal probe into Adams and his top officials have already spurred serious questions about the next steps for City Hall -- and potential action from Albany.
Here are all the latest developments in and out of the courthouse.
