NYC Mayor Adams enters not guilty plea in federal corruption case

New York City Mayor Eric Adams has been arraigned on federal corruption and bribery charges, marking the first time a sitting NYC mayor has been indicted in the modern era. Adams pleaded not guilty and will appear in court again on Wednesday. His lawyer, Alex Spiro, plans to file a motion to dismiss, calling the case “shaky.” The indictment alleges a corruption scheme involving free travel benefits and illegal campaign contributions from wealthy Turkish nationals. Adams is accused of performing favors for his benefactors, including pressuring the fire department to allow a Turkish consulate building to open. While prominent politicians have called for Adams to resign, others, including Sen. Chuck Schumer and House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, have not done so. Governor Kathy Hochul expects Adams to review the situation and decide on his future. The indictment details trips totaling over $123,000, with efforts made to disguise the foreign money. Prosecutors also claim Adams deleted messages and kept fake paper trails to conceal his misconduct. Separately, there are ongoing federal investigations into other officials close to Adams, including a probe into potential corruption at bars and nightclubs involving the former police commissioner’s twin brother. U.S. Attorney Damian Williams has indicated that more individuals may be held accountable as investigations continue.

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