New York City Mayor Eric Adams was charged by federal prosecutors on Thursday, Sept. 26, with bribery, including from foreign business people and at least one Turkish government official seeking to gain influence over him. According to the indictment unsealed on Thursday morning, Adams, a former Brooklyn borough president, sought and accepted valuable benefits, including luxury international travel, in exchange for favors including pressuring the New York City Fire Department to facilitate the opening of a foreign government’s Manhattan skyscraper that had not passed a fire inspection. The mayor pleaded not guilty to the charges during his arraignment in federal court on Friday, Sept. 27.

 

U.S. Attorney Damian Williams said, “As alleged, Mayor Adams abused his position as this City’s highest elected official, and before that as Brooklyn Borough President, to take bribes and solicit illegal campaign contributions. By allegedly taking improper and illegal benefits from foreign nationals, including to allow a Manhattan skyscraper to open without a fire inspection, Adams put the interests of his benefactors, including a foreign official, above those of his constituents.”

 

He added, “This Office and our partners at the FBI and DOI will continue to pursue corruption anywhere in this City, especially when that corruption takes the form of illegal foreign influence on our democratic system.”

 

The indictment read in part, “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 election campaign, as well as other things of value, from foreign nationals.”

 

It continued, in part, “As Adams’ prominence grew and power grew, his foreign-national benefactors sought to cash in on their corrupt relationships with him, particularly when, in 2021, it became clear Adams would become New York City mayor. Adams agreed, providing favorable treatment in exchange for the illicit benefis he received. After his inauguration as Mayor of New York City, Adams soon began preparing for his next election, including by planning to solicit more illegal contributions and granting requests from those who supported his 2021 mayoral campaign with such donations.”

Attorneys from the Southern District of New York discusses the five-count indictment against Mayor Eric Adams on Thursday, Sept.26, 2024. Video courtesy of Pix News va YouTube.

According to the indictment, Adams, a self-described “proud son of Brownsville, retired NYPD captain, former State senator and Brooklyn borough president, allegedly sought the donations via “straw” or “nominee” U.S.-based, [third party] contributions, meaning that the true contributors conveyed their money through nominal donors who allegedly falsely certified they were contributing their own money. This allowed foreign actors to allegedly circumvent laws designed to prevent foreign influence.

 

According to the indictment, wealthy individuals allegedly evaded laws designed to limit their power over elected officials since the law restricts the amount of money any one donor can donate to a candidate, and businesses allegedly circumvented a ban on corporate contributions by funneling their donations through multiple employees, frustrating a law designed to curb corporate power in politics. Adams went on to allegedly use the donations received “to defraud New York City and seek public funds” [taxpayer money].

 

The City’s matching funds program matches small dollar donations from individual City residents with up to eight times the original amount in public funds. The program was founded to democratize the electoral system to allow greater participation by candidates who do not come from wealthy backgrounds.

 

According to the indictment, Adams applied for public matching funds, fraudulently obtaining as much as $2,000 in public funds for each individual illegal contribution. Adams, and those working at his discretion, allegedly falsely certified compliance with applicable campaign finance regulations despite Adams’ repeated acceptance of straw donations, allegedly relying on the concealed nature of these illegal contributions to falsely portray such campaign donations as being law-abiding.

 

As a result of those false certifications, prosecutors said Adams’ 2021 mayoral campaign received more than $10,000,000 in public funds and Adams also allegedly sought and received other improper benefits from some of the same co-conspirators who funneled straw donations to his campaigns.

 

They said that in particular, a senior official in the Turkish diplomatic establishment (the “Turkish official”), who allegedly facilitated many straw donations to the mayor, also arranged for his and his companions to allegedly receive free or discounted travel on Turkey’s national airline (the “Turkish Airline”) which is owned in significant part by the Turkish government, to destinations including France, China, Sri Lanka, India, Hungary, and Turkey itself.

 

They said the Turkish official and other Turkish nationals further arranged for Adams and his companions to allegedly receive, among other things, free rooms at opulent hotels, free meals at high-end restaurants, and free luxurious entertainment, while in Turkey.

 

Prosecutors said Adams and others working at his direction allegedly repeatedly took steps to shield his solicitation and acceptance of these benefits from public scrutiny. They said he allegedly did not disclose the travel benefits he had obtained in annual financial disclosures he was required to file as a New York City employee.

 

They said sometimes, the mayor allegedly agreed to pay a nominal fee, to create the appearance of having paid for travel that was heavily discounted, while other times, Adams allegedly created and instructed others to create fake paper trails, falsely suggesting that he had paid, or planned to pay, for travel benefits that were actually free. They went on to say that the mayor also allegedly deleted messages with others involved in his misconduct, including, in one instance, allegedly assuring a co-conspirator in writing that he “always” deleted her messages.

 

Prosecutors said that in September 2021, the Turkish official allegedly told Adams that it was his turn to repay the Turkish official, by pressuring the New York City Fire Department (“FDNY”) to facilitate the opening of a new Turkish consular building, a 36-story skyscraper, without a fire inspection, in time for a high-profile visit by Turkey’s president.

 

Prosecutors said that at the time, the building would have failed an FDNY inspection, and in exchange for free travel and other travel-related bribes in 2021 and 2022 arranged by the Turkish official, Adams allegedly did as instructed. They said because of Adams’ pressure on the FDNY, the FDNY official responsible for the FDNY’s assessment of the skyscraper’s fire safety was allegedly told that he would lose his job if he failed to acquiesce, and, after Adams intervened, the skyscraper opened as requested by the Turkish official.

 

Reacting to the announcement, FBI Assistant Director James E. Dennehy said, “Today’s indictment serves as a sobering moment but also sends a powerful message to every elected official in this country: public service is a profound responsibility, and it should be a noble calling.  When that’s perverted by greed and dishonesty, it robs us of our trust.  This is a reminder that no one is above the law or beyond reproach.”

 

Meanwhile, NYC Department of Investigation Commissioner Jocelyn E. Strauber said,  “The indictment unsealed today alleges that Mayor Adams abused his power and position for nearly a decade, obtaining personal benefits and illegal campaign contributions from foreign nationals, and others, giving them undue influence over him.  As charged, this illegal conduct compromised his integrity as an elected official and New Yorkers expect better.  I thank the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of New York and the FBI for their commitment to partner with DOI to root out corruption in City government.”

 

Reacting to the news on Thursday, Bronx State Sen. Gustavo Rivera (S.D. 33) released the following statement, saying, “We have crossed a threshold — the mayor cannot continue to govern. Eric Adams must resign. I’m confident that Jumaane Williams is ready to fulfill his duties and address a gap in trustworthy leadership. I wish him good health as he must undoubtedly be preparing for a necessary transition.”

 

A statement from the NYS Young Republicans on Thursday read, “While our justice system centers on the concept that an individual is innocent until proven guilty, it is imperative that we hold our public officials to a higher standard. The charges levied against New York City Mayor Eric Adams are immense and troubling, and they beg the serious question of whether he can continue to effectively serve as mayor.”

 

It continued, “Time and again we are reminded of the culture of corruption that has been created in New York under Democrat one-party rule. Join us in sending a strong message to corrupt politicians that business as usual in the Empire State is over by voting Republican up and down the ballot this November.”

 

As reported, after addressing earlier calls on Wednesday, Sept. 25, for his resignation amid the political fallout stemming from a slew of recent resignations by several high profile officials in his administration, The New York Times reported late Wednesday evening that Adams, a Democrat, was to be indicted following a federal corruption investigation.

 

In an apparent video statement released late Wednesday night, Sept. 25, shared by several media outlets including Bloomberg and Molly Crane Newman of the NY Daily News, Adams said, “My fellow New Yorkers, it is now my belief that the federal government intends to charge me with crimes. If so, these charges will be entirely false, based on lies, but they would not be surprising. I always knew that if I stood my ground for all of you that I would be a target and a target I became.”

 

He added, “For months, leaks and rumors have been aimed at me in an attempt to undermine my credibility and paint me as guilty. Just this past week, they searched the home of our new police commissioner, looking for documents from 20 years ago, just one week after he joined my administration. Enough! I will fight these injustices with every ounce of my strength and my spirit.”

 

The mayor continued, “If charged, I know I am innocent. I will request an immediate trial so that New Yorkers can hear the truth. Now, if I am charged, many may say, I should resign because I cannot manage the City while fighting the case. I can also understand everyday New Yorkers will be concerned that I cannot do my job while I face accusations, but I have been facing these lies for months since I began to speak out for all of you and their investigation started.”

 

He concluded, “Yet, the city has continued to improve. Make no mistake. You elected me to lead this city and lead it, I will.” Norwood News requested both City Hall and the mayor’s legal representation to authenticate the veracity of the video, a screenshot of which is attached and since the source is referenced on the screen as “handout.” In the video, the mayor’s fingers appear to be briefly shaking before he presses his hands together while continuing his address.

 

City Hall initially announced that the mayor had no public events scheduled for Thursday, Sept. 26, but later confirmed that Adams would hold a press conference on the steps of Gracie Mansion on Thursday morning. That press conference can be viewed below courtesy of CBS New York on YouTube.

 

During the press conference, various supporters of the mayor addressed those gathered to defend him, asking that he be allowed defend himself in court like any other person. Others shouted jibes throughout the press conference talking over the various speakers. After the mayor answered some questions from the media, the press conference ended with those opposing Adams shouting, “Resign! resign! resign!”

New York City Mayor Eric Adams holds a press conference outside his residence, Gracie Mansion, in Manhattan after he was indicted on federal criminal charges on Thursday, Sept 26, 2024. Video courtesy of CBS New York via YouTube.

In a video seemingly recorded in the early hours of Thursday morning, Sept. 26, outside Gracie Mansion, the mayor’s residence, and shared by Bernadette Hogan of NY1 on social media, Frank V Carone, ex-chief of staff to the mayor, turned consultant and lobbyist, said the turn of events was “a sad day for the mayor and the City,” and added that he had been at Gracie Mansion to support the mayor.

 

Asked what his state of mind was, Carone said, “strong, very strong.” Asked by Hogan what Carone was telling the mayor to do, Carone said, “Stay strong. We’ll see the charges when they come.” Asked by another reporter how Adams was doing, Carone said, “He’s doing good. He’s strong.” Asked by Hogan if he was aware of any other individuals in the Adams administration [who were expected to be indicted] e.g. Winnie Greco, a former director of Asian Affairs in the Adams administration whose Bronx home was raided in February by the FBI, Carone said, “No, we haven’t seen any charges.” Greco has not been charged with any crime. At least one of her Bronx homes appears to be up for sale.

 

Asked by Hogan if Carone, himself, had been contacted by the feds, “besides the situation with the Catholic Church,” Carone said, in part “No, I haven’t been contacted there or any other place.” Asked if the Sheriff’s office was involved, Carone said, “Not that I know of.” Asked if the mayor had read the indictment, Carone said, “He hasn’t been notified yet.”

 

Asked if he thought the mayor should resign, Carone said, “Absolutely not, never.” Asked why not, it was difficult to hear what Carone said but he appeared to say that the mayor’s situation was the same as anyone else. “He deserves his day in court.” he said. Asked if he thought the mayor was distracted, Carone said, “Not at all.” Asked if he thought Public Advocate Jumaane Williams was fit to serve as mayor, Carone appeared to say, in part, “There’s one mayor, as elected.”

 

Williams’ public schedule had been cleared for Thursday according to his office.

Norwood News recently summarized the various resignations / announced retirements by top officials in the Adams administration, including Health Commissioner Dr. Ashwin Vasan and Schools Commissioner David Banks earlier this week, and reported on how the mayor has been battling to retain the confidence of New Yorkers amid the latest political storm.

 

As reported in November 2023, the mayor was the subject of an investigation by federal agents into matters relating to campaign financing and his 2021 mayoral campaign. Adams repeatedly stated that he and his administration officials were cooperating with the authorities in relation to the investigation. As above, the Bronx homes of one such official, Greco, along with others, were raided by federal agents earlier this year in the context of the investigation.

 

Separately, as also reported on March 19, during a press conference at City Hall, the mayor responded to the fact that Lorna Beach-Mathura, a resident of Florida and former resident of Brooklyn, filed a lawsuit in the State of New York the previous day, March 18, under the Adult Survivors Act against him, citing an alleged sexual assault in 1993, when both she and the mayor were employees with the Transit Bureau of the NYPD.

According to court-filed documents, having been passed over for promotion, Beach-Mathura, a Black, female NYPD employee, alleges she sought help with her career from Adams, both in his capacity as a police officer at the time and as a leader in the NYPD Guardians Association, an organization which advocates for the rights of Black employees.

 

Beach-Mathura, who holds a doctoral degree in educational leadership and who works in education according to her LinkedIn profile, alleges that instead of helping her, Adams allegedly asked her to perform oral sex on him after he allegedly drove her to a vacant lot. Court papers show the lawsuit was also filed against the NYPD Transit Bureau, the NYPD Guardians Association, and three other “unknown” entities, which are also defendants.

 

The Adult Survivors Act is New York State legislation enacted in May 2022 which amended state law to allow alleged victims of sexual offenses for which the statute of limitations had lapsed to file civil suits for a one-year period, from November 24, 2022, to November 24, 2023. During the same March 2024 press conference, Adams said he and the press were already aware of the commencement of legal proceedings by Beach-Mathura in relation to the lawsuit since November 2023. The mayor denies any wrongdoing and through his lawyers has called to dismiss the case.

 

During a press conference on Tuesday, Sept. 24, the mayor said in part of his mayoral work, “I love every day being the mayor of the City of New York, changing the lives of New Yorkers and everything that comes with it. I am more excited now being mayor than I was when I took my oath of office in the beginning.”

 

On Wednesday, Sept. 25, Democratic Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (NY-14), who represents parts of The Bronx and Queens, added to other calls for the mayor’s resignation, including one from progressive Democrat, Queens City Council Member Tiffany Cabán. The congresswoman wrote, “I do not see how Mayor Adams can continue governing New York City. The flood of resignations and vacancies are threatening gov function. Nonstop investigations will make it impossible to recruit and retain a qualified administration. For the good of the city, he should resign.”

In an earlier interview on Wednesday with News 12 The Bronx, Adams addressed the call for his resignation by the congresswoman, saying, “Well, I’m really surprised to hear her call for the resignation of the second Black mayor in the city. Here is a person who has stood up for those who were convicted of wrongdoing and saying that they should not be held accountable. So I mean, you know, the public really takes that with a grain of salt.”

 

 

Earlier on Wednesday night, in response to the indictment announcement, Ana María Archila and Jasmine Gripper, co-directors of the New York Working Families Party, released a statement, writing, “Mayor Eric Adams can no longer govern. He has lost the trust of the everyday New Yorkers he was elected to serve. Our city deserves a leader we can trust and who is not engulfed in endless scandals.”

 

The statement continued, “The City Charter mandates that if the Mayor resigns, the Public Advocate becomes the interim mayor. Fortunately for the people of New York, we have a public advocate who is ready to step in and lend stability to the city in this difficult moment.”

 

NYC Democratic Socialists of America (NYC-DSA) also issued a statement on Wednesday night, saying, “Tonight’s unprecedented indictment of Eric Adams is the logical conclusion of a mayoralty that has treated New York City as a playground for millionaires and billionaires at the expense of everyone else.”

 

It continued, “Under Eric Adams, New Yorkers have seen a federal investigation into his top aide, the indictment of two top FDNY chiefs; the resignations of the Police Commissioner, Health Commissioner, Schools Chancellor, and Corporate Counsel; and too many other scandals to list.”

 

The party added, “Adams is not only staggeringly corrupt—his policies have been a disaster for working-class New Yorkers. He raised the rent on two million rent-stabilized tenants and cut funding for schools, libraries, and parks. He wasted millions of dollars on no-bid city contracts to hotel owners and for-profit service providers while laying the blame for his vicious budget cuts on asylum seekers. The result? Our city is hemorrhaging working-class families of color, who can no longer afford to live in the city that they helped build.”

 

The party continued, “It’s time to turn the page. We have the opportunity to build a New York City that works for everyone—where every worker is treated with dignity; where every neighborhood has clean air and thriving public spaces; where every person, from lifelong residents to recent arrivals, has access to safe and affordable housing; and where every student has quality public education from 3-K to CUNY.”

 

The statement concluded, “New Yorkers need a Mayor who will fight for robust social services and truly safe communities—not corporate interests and foreign governments. Eric Adams and his austerity agenda have failed us. The people deserve a city of abundance.”

 

Adams is deemed innocent unless and until convicted in a court of law. He pleaded not guilty in federal court on Friday, Sept. 27, to the charges, and later moved to dismiss the 5-count indictment. On Tuesday, Oct. 1, the mayor sought sanctions on federal prosecutors who charged him, alleging they leaked grand jury material and other sensitive information in “brazen violations” of the rules.

Also on Friday, Adams’ chief advisor Ingrid Lewis Martin was hit with a search warrant and subpoenas by federal agents on her return from a Japanese vacation.

 

No charges against Greco, Lewis Martin, nor against any other Adams administration official have been announced. Adams has moved to dismiss the charges against him. Meanwhile, among a long list, Tim Pearson, a top public safety advisor to the mayor, was the latest administration official to resign from office on Monday, Sept. 30.

 

Federal officials said of the case, “If you believe you have information related to bribery, fraud, or any other illegal conduct by Adams or any other New York City employees, please contact DOI at tipline@doi.nyc.gov or (212) 825-2828.  If you were involved in such conduct, please consider self-disclosing through the SDNY Whistleblower Pilot Program at USANYS.WBP@usdoj.gov.”