NYC Mayor Adams charged with bribery in federal indictment

NEW YORK (PIX11) — Charges against New York City Mayor Eric Adams were unsealed Thursday following a federal criminal indictment.

The charges stem from a federal investigation into his 2021 mayoral campaign, and the indictment was unsealed Thursday morning before federal investigators planned a news conference.

Here is a list of the charges against Adams:

• Bribery
• Solicitation of a contribution by a foreign national
• Wire fraud
• Conspiracy to defraud the United States (Conspiracy to commit wire fraud, federal program bribery, and to receive campaign contributions by foreign nationals)

Federal investigators arrived at Gracie Mansion Thursday morning and seized Adams’ cellphone, according to his lawyer, Alex Spiro. Spiro called Thursday’s search an unnecessary “spectacle.”

“We are not surprised. We expected this,” Adams said during a press conference Thursday afternoon. “I ask New Yorkers to wait to hear our defense before making any judgments.”

The indictment does not affect Adams’ standing as mayor. For Adams to leave his post, he would have to resign or be directly removed by Gov. Kathy Hochul .

“From here, my attorneys will take care of the case so I can take care of the city,” said Adams outside Gracie Mansion. “My day-to-day will not change. I will continue to do the job for 8.3 million New Yorkers that I was elected to do.”

Adams said he plans to fight the indictment and called for an immediate trial to prove his innocence in a video statement Wednesday night.

“I always knew that If I stood my ground for New Yorkers I would be a target — and a target I became. If I am charged, I am innocent and I will fight this with every ounce of my strength and spirit,” Adams said.

The historic indictment comes after a year of intensifying investigations. Federal investigators have been looking into Adams since at least November 2023, when the FBI raided the home of a campaign fundraising consultant for the mayor.

Federal authorities were investigating if Adams received illegal donations from the Turkish government and businessmen in exchange for favorable treatment during his 2021 mayoral campaign, according to The New York Times. The FBI also seized Adams’ cellphones.

Earlier this month, federal authorities raided the homes of several members of his inner circle, including Deputy Mayor for Public Safety Philip Banks, Schools Chancellor David Banks, and First Deputy Mayor Sheena Wright.

Investigators also seized the cellphones of NYPD Commissioner Edward Caban, who subsequently resigned , and other NYPD lieutenants as part of a separate investigation.

When Thomas Donlon was announced as interim NYPD commissioner, his house too was searched. Donlon has said that the investigation is unrelated to his work with the NYPD.

Caban was not alone in resigning. David Banks, FDNY Commissioner Laura Kavanagh, Corporation Counsel Sylvia Hinds-Radix, Chief Counsel Lisa Zornberg and Health Commissioner Ashwin Vasan all resigned from the Adams administration in recent months.

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