(New York) New York Mayor Eric Adams said Friday he will turn over the documents needed to end the months-old corruption investigation into him and his campaign.
“It takes a lot of discipline to defend yourself when you know you’ve done nothing wrong. But I trust my team. I’m going to follow the rules, I’m going to comply,” the second African-American mayor to lead the American financial and multicultural megacity defended himself on Friday during a press conference.
“Being as transparent as possible is what we do,” assured this former police officer elected in November 2021 on a program to fight delinquency and criminality.
THE New York Times reported Thursday night that the 63-year-old Democratic lawmaker had been subpoenaed by federal prosecutors as part of the investigation into alleged corruption linked to Turkey.
The subpoenas before a federal grand jury — citizens who participate alongside a prosecutor in the pretrial phase — are part of a nine-month-old investigation into the mayor, his campaign, and the city government over the financing of Eric Adams’ 2021 election campaign.
The investigation is focusing on allegations of illegal donations to the Democrat’s campaign by construction companies linked to Ankara. In particular, suspicions are focused on Turkey’s authorization to build a huge skyscraper across the street from the UN headquarters in Manhattan, housing the country’s mission to the United Nations and its consulate general.
In November, the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), on the instructions of the Manhattan federal prosecutor’s office, seized cell phones and electronic devices belonging to the mayor and searched the home of the candidate’s campaign finance director.
Neither the FBI nor the prosecutor’s office responded to AFP’s requests.
The elected official denies any wrongdoing. According to the New York Timeshis lawyers conducted their own investigation and said they found no evidence of illegal activity. They forwarded their findings to the federal justice system, with which they continue to cooperate.
Born and raised in a poor, single-parent New York family, Mr. Adams chose the police force after flirting with crime and being the victim of police brutality.
An African-American police captain, anti-racist police unionist, elected from the right wing of the Democratic Party, Mr. Adams then became mayor in November 2021 for four years. He has since faced several scandals, including an accusation of sexual assault by a former police colleague, which he “vigorously” denies.
The plaintiff is seeking a civil lawsuit and $5 million in damages.