NYC Mayor Eric Adams says he doesn't plan to resign despite federal corruption case against him

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NEW YORK — New York City Mayor Eric Adams vowed to stay in office Thursday after federal prosecutors unsealed an indictment accusing him of letting Turkish officials and business people buy his influence with illegal campaign contributions and lavish overseas trips.

Adams, a Democrat, faces conspiracy, wire fraud and bribery charges in a five-count indictment outlining a decade-long trail of corruption that began when he served as an elected official in Brooklyn and continued through his mayoral administration.

Among other things, prosecutors say Adams received free and steeply discounted flight upgrades valued at more than $100,000, free stays in opulent hotel suites, expensive meals, as well as campaign contributions from straw donors, some of which helped him qualify for more than $10 million in matching public campaign funds.

"I want to be clear, these upgrades and freebies were not part of some frequent flyer or benefits program available to the general public," U.S. Attorney Damian Williams said at a news conference. "This was a multiyear scheme to buy favor from a single New York City official on the rise."

In exchange for the bribes, Adams took actions that appeared to benefit Turkey's leaders, including expediting the fire safety inspection at a consulate building and not releasing a statement on Armenian Genocide Remembrance Day, according to the indictment.

Adams had a duty to disclose gifts he received, but year after year "kept the public in the dark," the U.S. attorney said.

Speaking outside Gracie Mansion, Adams denied wrongdoing and said he doesn't plan to resign. Flanked by prominent Black clergy members, Adams, who is the city's second Black mayor, lashed out at federal prosecutors and suggested he had been unfairly targeted.

"I ask New Yorkers to wait to hear our defense before making any judgments," he said. "From here, my attorneys will take care of the case so I can take care of the city."

His lawyer, Alex Spiro, argued that the conduct described in the charges either wasn't illegal or didn't involve the mayor, noting that free flights are commonly afforded to politicians. He said Adams had responded to a "courtesy" request from a Turkish official seeking to expedite a fire inspection at a new consulate. "New Yorkers do this all the time," Spiro added.

Adams' arraignment was scheduled for noon on Friday before Magistrate Judge Katharine Parker.

While Adams faced calls to resign from Republicans and several of his likely opponents in next June's mayoral primary, top Democrats such as Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer and House Democratic leader Hakeem Jeffries stopped short of asking him to step down and instead said the legal process should play out.

Gov. Kathy Hochul has the power to remove Adams from office, but she hasn't indicated whether she would take that extraordinary step. She told reporters she would offer thoughts about it later Thursday.

The charges were made public hours after FBI agents entered the mayor's official residence, Gracie Mansion, and seized his phone early Thursday, capping an extraordinary few weeks in New York City that have seen a drumbeat of raids, subpoenas and high-level resignations of members of Adams' inner circle.

Federal prosecutors are believed to be leading multiple, separate inquiries involving Adams and his senior aides, relatives of those aides, campaign fundraising and possible influence peddling of the police and fire departments.

In the last two weeks alone, the police commissioner and schools chancellor have resigned. Neither has been charged with a crime or publicly accused of wrongdoing. In early September, federal investigators seized devices from the police commissioner, schools chancellor, two deputy mayors and other trusted Adams confidants.

Correction: This story was updated to correct that prosecutors say Adams' campaign received more than $10 million, not more than $10,000, in matching public funds.

Contributing: Aron Ranen

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