New York City Mayor Eric Adams said he is "not surprised" after his indictment was unsealed on Thursday.
Adams is the first sitting mayor in the city's history to face criminal charges. He was charged with one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud, federal program bribery, and to receive campaign contributions by foreign nationals; one count of wire fraud; two counts of solicitation of a contribution by a foreign national; and one count of bribery.
"We are not surprised," Adams said. "We expected this. This is not surprising to us at all, the actions that have unfolded over the last 10 months, the leaks, the commentary, the demonizing."
He also asked the public to "wait to hear our side to this narrative."
"Based on what I read, if it's campaign violations, I know I don't violate the campaigns," Adams said. "If it's foreign donors, I know I don't take money from foreign donors, and I verbalize that to the team both in writing and communication, and we will continue to do that."
He said he has no plans to resign as he faces these criminal charges.
"From here, my attorneys will take care of the case so I can take care of the city," Adams said. "My day to day will not change."
Protesters gathered outside of the press conference to call for his resignation. One protestor called out that Adams was an "embarrassment" and another called him "corrupt."
Indictment Unsealed
The charges relate to contributions to his 2021 campaign, "including from wealthy foreign businesspeople and at least one Turkish government official seeking to gain influence over him."
"As Adams' prominence and power grew, his foreign-national benefactors sought to cash in on their corrupt relationships with him, particularly when, in 2021, it became clear that Adams would become New York City's mayor," the 57-page indictment alleges.
The indictment alleges that wealthy individuals used other individuals called "straw" donors who claimed they were contributing their own money, to circumvent the cap placed on how much money one person can donate.
Prosecutors also alleged that Adams accepted over $100,000 in undisclosed gifts such as luxury travel from Turkish businesspeople and at least one Turkish government official.
"This was a multi-year scheme to buy favor with a single New York City politician on the rise, Eric Adams," United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York Damian Williams said.
Williams also alleged that Adams intervened in a skyscraper's fire inspection on behalf of a Turkish official.
"The FDNY professionals were convinced that they would lose their jobs if they didn't back down, and so they did," Williams said. "They got out of the way and let the building open, the Turkish official got what he wanted.
Williams said Adams went back to "soliciting more travel benefits" days later.
"We allege that Mayor Adams abused that privilege and broke the law, laws that are designed to ensure that officials like him serve the people, not the highest bidder, not a foreign bidder and certainly not a foreign power," Williams said. "These are bright red lines, and we allege that the mayor crossed them again and again for years."
James Dennehy, the assistant director in charge of the FBI's New York Field Office, said the indictment is "not just another headline."
"It is a stinging reminder that no one is above the law or beyond reproach, and it serves as a sobering moment for all of us who place our trust in elected officials," Dennehy said.
The Alleged Trips Around the World and Favors
The indictment alleges that Adams traveled around the world at a discount and for free dating as far back as 2016.
In 2016, he allegedly accepted free upgrades to business class for himself and a guest on roundtrip flights from New York to India.
In July of 2017, he is accused of accepting free business class tickets for himself and two others on roundtrip flights from New York to France, Turkey, Sri Lanka and China. That same month, he allegedly accepted a "steeply discounted" stay at the Bentley Suite of the St. Regis Istanbul.
Three months later, he is accused of obtaining free business class tickets for himself and another person for a roundtrip flight from New York to China.
He also allegedly accepted free upgrades to business class on roundtrip flights to Hungary in 2018 and discounted business class tickets to Pakistan in 2021.
In addition to the flights, Adams allegedly used his influence to gain hotel stays, use of a VIP room, a free car and driver and a meal at a luxury restaurant at free and discounted rates.
Earlier on Thursday, FBI officials were seen searching Adams' residence.
"Federal agents appeared this morning at Gracie Mansion in an effort to create a spectacle (again) and take Mayor Adams phone (again)," Adams' lawyer, Alex Spiro, said in a statement.
Adams resisted calls to resign and asked for "prayers and patience" in a video statement released Wednesday.
"I always knew that If I stood my ground for New Yorkers that I would be a target—and a target I became," Adams said. "If I am charged, I am innocent and I will fight this with every ounce of my strength and spirit."
The mayor is expected to have several days to turn himself in to authorities.
Adams was issued a federal subpoena in July to obtain information from him, his campaign and City Hall. Eight months earlier, the FBI confiscated his phones and iPad.
Investigators also seized the phones of the police commissioner, schools chancellor, two deputy mayors and a senior adviser overseeing migrant shelter contracts last month.
Police Commissioner Edward Caban resigned on September 12 "for the good of this city" and the New York City Police Department.
New York City schools chancellor David Banks announced his retirement on Tuesday. The retirement will take effect by the end of the year.
One day earlier, the city's health commissioner Dr. Ashwin Vasan resigned for personal and family reasons.
Calls to Resign
Several politicians have called for Adams to resign, including New York Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez.
"I do not see how Mayor Adams can continue governing New York City," Ocasio-Cortez wrote on X. "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."
Andrew Yang, who ran against Adams in 2021, told CNN Adams "should resign in order to give a new leader a chance to right the ship and get the city back to a place where it can hire and retain high-quality leaders to try and move the city forward."
If Adams were to resign, a special election would be held and Jumaane Williams, the city's public advocate, would serve as acting mayor in the interim.
Adams was elected to the mayor's office in 2021. He succeeded Bill de Blasio, who was ineligible to run due to term limitations.
De Blasio told CNN he felt "shock and concern for our city," but added that "innocent until proven guilty is the American way."
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About the writer
Jenna Sundel is a Newsweek reporter based in New Jersey. Her focus is reporting on breaking news. She has in-depth ... Read more