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.
Representative Jerry Nadler, a Democrat from New York, called on Eric Adams to resign.
“While the criminal charges outlined in the indictment by the U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York are very serious, Mayor Adams deserves the right to due process and to be treated as presumed innocent until proven guilty. However, there are questions on whether the Mayor can continue to effectively lead our City as Mayor at this time,” Nadler posted on X.
He is joined in calling for Adams to step down by progressive representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez.
Katie Hawkinson27 September 2024 18:30
Hundreds gather for Eric Adams’s arraignment
Journalists and members of the public gathered at the Manhattan federal court today for Eric Adams’s arraignment.
Across the street and in front of the courtroom, there are hundreds of people. Cars are in gridlock, and passersby have stopped to take photos and videos
Many journalists agreed that today’s crowd was larger than the crowd for Donald Trump’s legal proceedings.
Ariana Baio, Katie Hawkinson27 September 2024 18:00
Eric Adams to appear in court next week
Mayor Eric Adams is set to appear in court again on Wednesday before Judge Dale Ho.
At his arraignment on Friday afternoon, prosecutors did not request Adams surrender his passport. However, he is forbidden from having contact with witnesses named in the indictment. Prosecutors will give his attorney, Alex Spiro, a list of those names.
However, because members of his family and staff are named, Adams is permitted to discuss “business or private family matters,” Magistrate Judge Katharine Parker said.
Katie Hawkinson27 September 2024 17:31
Eric Adams enters plea
Mayor Eric Adams has officially entered his not-guilty plea to all five federal charges as his arraignment proceeds in Manhattan federal court.
Katie Hawkinson27 September 2024 17:15
Eric Adams seated for arraignment
New York City Mayor Eric Adams is seated inside Manhattan federal court awaiting his arraignment, which is set to begin any moment.
Katie Hawkinson27 September 2024 16:58
ICYMI: New York Times’s Editorial Board calls for Eric Adams to step down
The New York Times’s Editorial Board has called for New York City Mayor Eric Adams to resign amid his indictment on federal charges.
“The charges against Mr. Adams are serious, including allegations that he misappropriated more than $10 million in public funds for his 2021 campaign,” the Editorial Board wrote.
“The mayor will have his day in court and is entitled to make a vigorous defense, but that does not mean he must force New York City to wait for him to prove his innocence under the law,” the Editorial Board continued. “To serve the city that elected him, Mr. Adams should immediately resign and turn City Hall over to someone untainted by criminal charges and endless investigations.”
Katie Hawkinson27 September 2024 16:45
Watch: Eric Adams, mayor of New York City, vows to fight federal charges ahead of arraignment today
Katie Hawkinson27 September 2024 16:30
Eric Adams tweet praising Diddy resurfaces as both are indicted
The social media message, which was posted in September last year, reads: “He might be the ‘bad boy’ of entertainment, but Sean Combs will forever be a New York City kid who made good.
Kevin EG Perry27 September 2024 16:00
Free upgrades, campaign donations and the Bentley suite: How Eric Adams allegedly traveled the world on Turkey’s dime
Eric Adams will be arraigned in Manhattan federal court today at 12 p.m. ET.
Catch up on everything you need to know about the charges he’s facing ahead of the hearing from The Independent’s Justin Rohrlich:
Katie Hawkinson27 September 2024 15:30
Governor Kathy Hochul has power to remove Eric Adams as mayor
Governor Kathy Hochul has the legal power to remove Eric Adams as mayor of New York City, The New York Times reports.
However, she did not address those powers in a statement on Thursday night about the indictment.
“I expect the mayor to take the next few days to review the situation and find an appropriate path forward to ensure the people of New York City are being well-served by their leaders,” Hochul said, according to the Times. “We must give New Yorkers confidence that there is steady, responsible leadership at every level of government.”
Katie Hawkinson27 September 2024 15:00