New York City Mayor Eric Adams has reportedly been indicted in a federal corruption investigation. The New York Times.
It is not yet clear what charges Adams, 64, will face. If the indictment is announced, Adams would be the first sitting New York City mayor to face criminal charges. Federal prosecutors are expected to reveal details of the charges on Thursday, the Journal reported.
The news comes after New York City prosecutors opened an investigation into Trump's inner circle, making some of his closest aides and advisers the subject of a federal investigation.
The developments regarding Adams come less than a month after federal agents searched the homes of senior officials in his administration, seizing devices from the home of the New York Police Commissioner.
The Adams administration did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
Police set up barricades outside Gracie Mansion, the mayor's residence. New York PostThe outlet reported that city hall staff learned Wednesday morning that Adams would soon be charged, and that employees had been in a state of panic throughout the day.
The U.S. attorney's office in Manhattan declined to comment.
“I knew that standing up for the people of New York would make me a target, and I have been,” Adams said in a statement, suggesting he had not been informed of the charges. “If charged, I am innocent and will fight them with all my heart and soul.”
In a recorded speech from his official residence, Adams acknowledged that some New Yorkers would question his ability to run the city while he fights the charges, but vowed to remain in office.
“I have faced these lies for months, and our city continues to improve,” Adams said. “Make no mistake: You elected me to lead this city, and I will continue to lead.”
The federal investigation into the Adams administration first came to public attention on Nov. 2, 2023, when FBI agents conducted an early morning search of the Brooklyn home of Brianna Suggs, Adams' fundraising chief.
Adams maintained at the time that he followed the law and said he would be “shocked” if anyone working for his campaign had engaged in illegal conduct. “I can't tell you how much I tell my team at the start of the day that they have to follow the law,” he told reporters at the time.
A few days later, FBI agents seized the mayor's phone and iPad as he left a Manhattan event, and the transactions were made public by the mayor's lawyers days later.
Then, on Sept. 4, federal agents seized electronic devices both inside and outside City Hall from the city's police chief, superintendent, deputy mayor for public safety, first deputy mayor and other trusted aides of Adams.
Federal prosecutors declined to comment on the investigation, but people familiar with the matter described several separate investigations into senior aides to Adams and their relatives, campaign fundraising and possible attempts to influence police and fire departments.
