New York City Mayor Eric Adams has entered a not guilty plea to federal charges of receiving bribes and illegal campaign contributions from Turkish nationals, as he faces growing pressure from members of his party to resign.
At the Manhattan federal court, the 64-year-old Mr. Adams made his plea before US Magistrate Judge Katharine Parker during his initial court appearance.
“I am not guilty, your honor,” Mr. Adams stated when asked by Judge Parker about his plea.
He has consistently denied any wrongdoing and expressed his intention to contest the charges legally.Following the hearing, Mr. Adams and his attorney, Mr. Spiro, were escorted out of the courtroom by members of the US Marshals Service.
Judge Parker announced that Mr. Adams would be released on his own recognizance, with the stipulation that he refrain from contacting witnesses or individuals named in the indictment.
However, she noted exceptions would be made for family members and staff, provided he does not discuss the indictment details with them.”I will continue to do my job as mayor,” he affirmed during a news conference yesterday.
The indictment reveals that federal prosecutors allege Turkish diplomats and business people illegally channeled funds to Mr. Adams’ campaign and provided him with luxury travel benefits, including stays at high-end hotels and dining at upscale restaurants.
In return, prosecutors claim he exerted pressure on city officials in 2021 to permit Turkey’s new 36-story consulate building to open despite safety concerns.
The alleged activities reportedly trace back to 2014, when Mr. Adams took on the role of Brooklyn borough president, with the illegal contributions purportedly aiding in financing his 2021 mayoral campaign.
He is facing five criminal charges and could potentially face decades behind bars if convicted.Efforts to contact Turkey’s foreign ministry, president’s office, and embassy in Washington for comments were not answered.
Notably, Mr. Adams, who previously served as a police officer rising to the rank of captain, is the first sitting mayor of New York among its 110 mayors to be charged with a federal crime.
Political turmoil has enveloped the largest city in the United States, with numerous senior officials currently under federal scrutiny.
The police commissioner stepped down on September 12 after his phone was seized by FBI agents, followed by the resignation of Mr. Adams’ chief legal adviser.
Many prominent city officials and politicians, including House of Representatives member Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, a fellow Democrat, have called for his resignation.
However, influential Brooklyn Democrats, Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer and House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, have refrained from making similar calls.
New York Governor Kathy Hochul, also a Democrat, has the capability to remove Mr. Adams from office, but this process is complex, according to Pace University Law School Professor Bennett Gershman.Governor Hochul stated she would “review” her “options and obligations as the Governor of New York.”
“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,” she added.
The indictment alleges that while serving as Brooklyn borough president, Mr. Adams accepted complimentary travel from a Turkish airline valued in the tens of thousands, and paid only $600 for two nights at a luxury suite in the St. Regis Hotel in Istanbul, a significant discount from the actual rate of $7,000.
Prosecutors claim he would prefer to fly with the Turkish airline even if it was inconvenient.
“You know first stop is always Istanbul,” he wrote in a 2017 text message when his partner expressed confusion about their flight route from New York to Paris via Istanbul.
According to the indictment, Mr. Adams disguised contributions from Turkish sources during his 2021 mayoral campaign by routing them through US citizens.
These funds enabled him to qualify for an additional $10 million in public financing, as detailed in the indictment.
US laws prohibit foreign contributions to American political campaigns.Prosecutors further allege that Mr. Adams took action in response to requests from Turkish diplomats.
In particular, he is accused of pressuring city safety inspectors at the request of a Turkish diplomat to expedite the opening of the new consulate ahead of a scheduled visit by Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan in September 2021, despite it failing a fire inspection, as stated in the indictment.
After multiple communications from Mr. Adams concerning the building, a senior fire department official allegedly warned a subordinate that he could lose his job if he did not approve the consulate’s opening, according to prosecutors.
The indictment claims the mayor informed the diplomat when the fire department approved the building to be operational later that day.”You are a true friend of Turkey,” the diplomat reportedly responded.
