Embattled New York City Mayor Eric Adams has been indicted on at least one criminal charge by federal prosecutors, making him the first mayor of the city to be charged in office, according to reports.
Adams is under federal investigation over campaign fundraising violations and foreign influence, according to the New York Times, which first reported the indictment on Wednesday night.
The indictment is due to be unsealed later this morning when Adams could appear in court.
The Democrat, a retired police captain who grew up in Brooklyn and Queens, is now fighting for his political career with several prominent politicians already calling for him to resign, including congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez.
Adams was elected as New York City’s 110th mayor in 2021 and took office in 2022. He was due to run again in next year’s mayoral race for a second term.
So what do we know about the indictment of Adams?
What are the allegations?
The exact allegations are unknown but it is understood they center on whether Adams and his campaign conspired with the Turkish government over illegal foreign donations, according to the Times.
Adams is likely to be charged with acting as an unregistered foreign agent for taking actions in his official capacity after receiving donations from foreign sources, The Cityreported.
In addition, the investigation is looking into allegations around whether Adams pressured officials of the New York Fire Department to greenlight a new high-rise building for the Turkish consulate in Manhattan despite safety concerns, the Times reported.
It is not clear if Adams will surrender voluntarily or if he will be arrested.
Federal agents seized mayor’s electronic devices
In November 2023, federal agents seized Adams’ electronic devices as part of an ongoing probe into allegations of corruption related to campaign finance wrongdoings.
The New York City mayor has been vocal about his longstanding relationship with Turkey and the Turkish-American community of New York. He previously boasted that he’s made at least six trips to Turkey.
Reports circulated that Adams received campaign donations from employees of a Brooklyn-based construction company owned by a Turkish-American businessman.
Adams denies any wrongdoing
In a statement to The Independent, Adams denied that he had done anything wrong.
“I always knew that If I stood my ground for New Yorkers that 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,” he said.
Adams then released a video statement again proclaiming his innocence.
“My fellow New Yorkers, it is now my belief that the federal government intends to charge me with crimes,” said Adams in the video. “If so, these charges will be entirely false, based on lies. But they would not be surprising. I always knew that if I stood my ground for all of you, that I would be a target, and a target I became.”
He added: “I can also understand how everyday New Yorkers would be concerned that I cannot do my job while I face accusations, but I have been facing these lies for months since I began to speak out for all of you and their investigation started.”
Calls for mayor to resign
Representative Ocasio-Cortez called for Adams to resign soon after the news broke on Wednesday night.
“I do not see how Mayor Adams can continue governing New York City,” she wrote on X. “The flood of resignations and vacancies are threatening government function. Nonstop investigations will make it impossible to recruit and retain a qualified administration.
“For the good of the city, he should resign.”
Others have echoed her calls, including State Senator John Liu, ABC7NY reports. “The people of New York City, however, need a mayor who is able to devote full time and full energy to putting the city on the right track, including recruitment and retention of top leadership for the City,” he said.
“Mayor Adams is simply unable to do that for the foreseeable future and therefore, for the good of all New Yorkers, must resign immediately,” Liu added. NYC council member Shekar Krishnan said: “New Yorkers deserve better.”
“Mayor Adams has already proven himself unfit and unable to lead from City Hall,” Krishnan said. “He will absolutely be unable to lead from inside a courtroom. He must resign.”
Who takes over if the mayor steps down
Adams said he has no intention of resigning. “I’m stepping up, not stepping down,” he said. “I have a city to run that I will continue to run.”
But in the event of his resignation, the city’s public advocate, Jumaane Williams, would step in as acting mayor.
A special election would be scheduled by Williams – who is a fierce critic of Adams – which would take place by the end of the year.
“As the facts emerge, the Public Advocate will have more to say to the people of New York City and right now, he is focused on how best to ensure that New Yorkers can regain trust, confidence and stability in city government,” a spokesperson for Williams said in a statement.
Adams is not required to resign but there is only one person has the power to remove him from office before the end of his term – the governor, Kathy Hochul. A source told the New York Postthere is “no chance” she would, however.
The governor has been urged to distance herself from the embattled mayor. William O’Reilly, a Republican strategist, told Spectrum News NY1: “I would tell the governor to begin airing her concern for what’s going on in New York.
“You have an administration that looks riddled with corruption, I mean riddled from the top down. And if the governor doesn’t get out ahead of it, she’s going to end up being behind the story and she’s gonna become part of the story.”
Hochul shared a message of unity when addressing the investigation on Wednesday. “Mayor Eric Adams was elected to represent the same 8.3 million New Yorkers. We have to work together,” she said. “People need us to pull together at this time and show that government is functioning.”
String of mayor’s associates have already resigned
Over the past several weeks several of the mayor’s political associates have resigned or announced their intention to leave their positions.
These include the mayor’s police commissioner, the schools chancellor, the health commissioner and his chief counsel.
Former mayor Bill de Blasio responds to indictment
De Blasio told CNN that he had “two reactions” to the indictment.
“They probably sound kind of different from each other,” de Blasio said.
“One is, of course, shock and concern for our city. And then another is a very strong reminder that innocent until proven guilty is the American way.
“I went through an experience with a Southern District where I saw a lot of things that did not come true despite allegations. I do think we have to be really careful here. We haven’t seen anything specific.”
