Read the full indictment unsealed in the criminal case against New York City Mayor Eric Adams.
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.
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.”
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“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.
READ FULL INDICTMENT
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.
Eric Adams Responds
“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.”
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