New York Mayor Eric Adams Indicted on Bribery, Campaign Finance Charges

New York City’s Democratic Mayor Eric Adams has been indicted on five counts by the Manhattan federal prosecutor’s office, according to a court document seen by AFP on Thursday, September 26. He is notably accused of “solicitation of illegal campaign financing” and “corruption” in an investigation linked to Turkey.

“He hid from the public that he was secretly showered with gifts” and maintained “the public in ignorance year after year”Manhattan U.S. Attorney Damian Williams said at a news briefing. Eric Adams, 64, has been the target of this investigation for months into suspicions concerning the financing of his victorious campaign in 2021 to become the second African-American mayor in the history of New York.

The indictment includes charges of wire fraud, illegal solicitation of campaign contributions from a foreign person and accepting bribes from a Turkish official in exchange for influence over a project to build a skyscraper to house Turkey’s mission to the United Nations and its consulate general. Eric “Adams continued his corrupt dealings after he became mayor”it is stated in the document. On Wednesday evening, after the announcement of his indictment, the mayor said to himself “innocent”.