New York City Mayor Eric Adams, indicted on federal fraud, bribery and campaign finance charges, says the Justice Department's case against him is “absolutely false, based on lies” and calls the White House's failure to respond to the crisis He said it was in response to the mayor's criticism. At the southern border.
The indictment includes serious charges that $10 million may have been stolen from taxpayers' pockets, but New Jersey defense attorney David Gelman, who is pursuing the case, said the investigation was politically motivated. They say it may have started as revenge.
“Reading this indictment, it appears they didn't start investigating in earnest until 2021 or 2022, when they raided the Eric Adams fundraiser's home,” he told Fox News Digital. In November 2023, the FBI searched Brianna Suggs, who raised the most money for the mayor's 2021 campaign.
Federal authorities seize Eric Adams' cell phone after New York mayor indicts him
New York City Mayor Eric Adams speaks at a press conference on September 26, 2024. The mayor is facing federal charges following an investigation into allegations of campaign corruption. (Rashid Umar Abbasi, Fox News Digital)
“Now, what happened in 2021 and 2022? That's when Eric Adams criticized the Biden administration,” Gelman added.
The attack on Suggs occurred during Adams' trip to Washington, D.C., to raise concerns about the immigration crisis. He cut short his trip.
Adams has revamped the White House's border policy since migrants began arriving in New York in droves, overwhelming the city's shelter system and allegedly fueling a “wave of immigrant crime” including phone snatching and other thefts. He has been a vocal critic.
But investigators said Thursday that politics played no role in proving the case.
New York City Mayor Eric Adams indicted
New York City police officers stand outside Gracie Mansion, the official residence of New York City Mayor Eric Adams, Thursday, September 26, 2024, in New York City. (AP Photo/Yuki Iwamura)
“We're not focused on the right or the left,” Damian Williams, the U.S. attorney for the Southern District of New York, said at a press conference Thursday. “We focus on right and wrong. It is our duty and we will fulfill it.”
A spokesperson for Adams' office declined further comment on Adams' claims of political persecution.
Gellman said that regardless of the motive, Adams faces felony charges including defrauding taxpayers, accepting bribes and using rampant influence.
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WATCH: New York City Mayor Adams says pending federal charges are 'completely false'
He also said he was shocked by how explicit the accusations against the former NYPD lieutenant were, if true. In his remarks, Williams even dismissed the mayor's attempt to cover his tracks as a “clumsy cover-up.”
“I'm honestly amazed at how sloppy Adams and his guys were,” Gelman said. “You would think that someone who knows anything about police work or government would have a better understanding of how to hide and hide things. But I don't think that's the case.”
Damien Williams, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York, speaks to reporters. At a news conference Thursday, he denied that the federal investigation into New York City Mayor Eric Adams was politically motivated. (U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York)
Anthony Capozzolo, a former federal prosecutor who handled public corruption cases in the neighboring Eastern District of New York City, said the “shocking” charges against Adams stem from corruption in the 1800s at Boss Tweed and Tammany Hall. He said it was a reversal.
“While there are not many cases involving corruption or insider advantage that pose a risk to public safety, this case does not require Adams to set aside concerns about the security of the Turkish diplomatic compound. “This is accompanied by the fact that there appears to be an intention to allow its use in Turkey. We responded promptly to the request of Turkish government officials.” “This was a high-rise building. For the prosecution, this prevents the defense from trying to downplay the seriousness of the crime, which is another common defense tactic in corruption cases.”
Adams has portrayed the investigation as a smear campaign aimed at undermining his credibility and making him look guilty in the months leading up to the charges.
He has decried leaks from the traditionally tight-lipped SDNY office and questioned the legitimacy of raids on many members of his inner circle.
“Just last week, police raided the new police chief's home, searching for documents from 20 years ago, just a week after he joined my administration,” he said. “Enough is enough. I will fight these injustices with all my strength and soul.”
read indictment:
The FBI seized Adams' cellphone Thursday morning when he returned to Gracie Mansion, the mayor's official residence, but he has not yet been taken into custody.
The mayor is currently charged with one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud and bribery by receiving campaign funds from a foreign national, one count of wire fraud, two counts of soliciting campaign funds from a foreign national, and one count of soliciting and receiving bribes. .
If convicted on all charges, Mr. Adams could face up to 45 years in prison.
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Federal investigators were investigating whether Adams' 2021 and 2025 mayoral campaigns colluded with Turkish officials, business leaders and other groups to illegally raise funds, according to the indictment. Court documents allege misconduct dating back to 2016.
