Why was Adams indicted
NYC Mayor Eric Adams became the Big Apple’s first sitting mayor to be indicted by a grand jury Wednesday.
Adams is alleged to have accepted $10 million dollars in illegal campaign contributions and bribes including cushy travel upgrades in an indictment unsealed Thursday.
Adams accepted the illicit gifts from a Turkish government official for over a decade as part of a “multi-year scheme to buy favor,” US Attorney for the Southern District of New York Damian Williams said in a press conference Thursday.
“In 2014, Eric Adams, the defendant, became Brooklyn Borough President. Thereafter, for nearly a decade, Adams sought and accepted improper valuable benefits, such as luxury international travel, including from wealthy foreign businesspeople and at least one Turkish government official seeking to gain influence over him,” the indictment charges.
In return for the alleged payouts, Adams pressured Big Apple officials to waive inspections and push through approval for the Turkish Consulate in Manhattan, the indictment charges.
What are his charges?
Mayor Adams is charged with one count of conspiracy to receive campaign contributions from foreign nationals and commit wire fraud and bribery, one count of wire fraud, two counts of soliciting campaign contributions from foreign nationals, and one count of soliciting and accepting a bribe according to a DOJ press release.
What could his punishment look like
Adams could face up to 45 years in prison if convicted on all charges, the press release states.
The conspiracy to receive campaign contributions from foreign nationals and commit wire fraud and bribery charge carries a maximum sentence of five years, the wire fraud charge carries a maximum sentence of twenty years, the two counts of soliciting campaign contributions from foreign nationals carries a combined sentence of ten years, and the one count of soliciting and accepting a bribe carries a maximum sentence of ten years, per the press release.
All of these charges add up to a maximum 45 years in prison if convicted on all counts.
How are New Yorkers reacting to Adams’ indictment?
GOP Rep Elise Stefanik called on the mayor to resign Thursday.
“This is the culmination of the cult of corruption rampant in the New York Democrat Party – from the former disgraced Governor Cuomo and his sycophant henchmen to the Communist Chinese who have infiltrated Kathy Hochul, the least popular NY Governor in history, to now Eric Adams,” Stefanik said.
“Of course, Eric Adams should resign.”
Eric Adams indicted: Live updates after NYC mayor hit with indictment
City Council Speaker Adrienne Adams called on the mayor to “seriously and honestly consider whether full attention can be given to our deserving New Yorkers,” but stopped short of calling on Hizzoner to resign.
House Speaker Hakeem Jeffries called Adams’ indictment “a serious and sober moment for New York City.”
Billionaire hedge fund investor Bill Ackman expressed doubt over whether Adams is guilty, suggesting that his outspokenness over the migrant crisis could be behind the feds targeting him.
“Having witnessed the weaponization of our country’s prosecutorial resources, sadly I have to say I am that much more skeptical when indictments are announced against someone whose views are not welcomed by the party in charge,” Ackman posted on X.
What are other issues going on with his administration
Ex-NYPD commissioner Edward Caban stepped down from his post Thursday September 12, after federal investigators seized his electronic devices as part of a sweeping corruption probe that targeted a slew of police officials close to aides of Mayor Adams.
A little over a week later the feds raided the home of interim NYPD chief Thomas Donlon.
Donlon said the authorities “took materials that came into my possession 20 years ago and are unrelated to my work with the New York City Police Department.”
Mayor Adams Chief Counsel Lisa Zornberg resigned suddenly Saturday, September 14 after she recommended three embattled City Hall aides get the axe, sources told The Post.
Zornberg allegedly hit her limit with Mayor Adams after Hizzoner balked at firing Phil Banks, the deputy mayor for public safety; Tim Pearson, a powerful Adams advisor in charge of migrant contracting; and Winnie Greco, the city’s director of Asian Affairs.
“I am tendering my resignation, effective today, as I have concluded that I can no longer effectively serve in my position,” Zornberg’s resignation letter said.
Stay updated with the New York Post’s coverage of Mayor Eric Adams’ indictment
- Suited-up feds search Gracie Mansion after Adams becomes first indicted NYC mayor
- Adams’ indictment could open the door for these potential 2025 challengers
- Adams’ top campaign fundraiser Brianna Suggs, close aide Winnie Greco expected to be named in bombshell indictment
- Adams is first NYC mayor to be indicted in office but others resigned under probe
Will Adams resign? If so, who becomes mayor?
A defiant Mayor Adams declared he would not step down as mayor in a press conference Thursday, vowing he would “continue to do the job.”
“My day-to-day will not change,” Hizzoner said.
The mayor claimed that calls for him to resign due to the corruption charges are “an insult to the hard-working people of this city.”
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Adams can continue to serve as mayor under the indictment, but NY Gov. Kathy Hochul has the power to remove the embattled pol.
There’s no chance of Hochul taking the extraordinary action, a source tells The Post.
If Adams were to step down or be removed from office he would be succeeded by Public Advocate Jumaane Williams, with city Comptroller Brad Lander next in line.
Williams would be tasked with setting a date for the special election to replace Adams, which would need to be set for the first Tuesday at least 80 days from when he became acting mayor.
What happens next?
Adams is expected to surrender to federal authorities on Friday.
He’ll then make his first appearance in Manhattan federal court, where he’ll get a chance to formally answer to the charges.
Given his public denials, he will likely issue a plea of not guilty to all five charges
We don’t have a trial date yet but Adams has said he wants to go to trial as soon as possible
