Former President Trump predicted that New York City Mayor Eric Adams would be indicted within a year and called for an honest Justice Department.
President Trump met with reporters Thursday afternoon inside Trump Tower in New York City, and then fielded several questions on topics including the Ukraine war, the Iran war and the Adams indictment. manhattan grand jury Wednesday regarding federal criminal charges following a campaign corruption investigation.
A reporter asked President Trump if he thought Adams would receive a fair trial, and Trump said he didn't know.
Trump said he didn't know Adams very well and acknowledged that the current mayor had been generous to Trump in his remarks. President Trump claimed that the “worst mayor in history” was former Mayor Bill de Blasio, who served the term before Adams.
New York City Mayor Eric Adams indicted
On Thursday, former president and Republican presidential candidate Trump addressed the press at Trump Tower in New York City. (Angela Weiss/AFP via Getty Images)
“Let me just say this: I saw it about a year ago. [Adams] “I talked about how illegal immigrants are hurting our cities. The federal government should pay us, we don't have to take them in,” Trump said. He will likely be indicted within a year. 'And I was exactly right, because that's what we have.
President Trump wished Adams well, adding, “We have people taking advantage of the Department of Justice and the FBI at a level we've never seen before.”
Trump admitted he had no knowledge of what Adams did to get indicted, but a group present told him his prediction was correct.
FBI raids home of Brianna Suggs, New York Mayor Eric Adams' chief fundraiser, sources say
New York City Mayor Eric Adams spoke at a press conference Thursday in front of the Gracie Mansion in New York City. (Rashid Umar Abbasi, Fox News Digital)
On Wednesday, the mayor was 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 solicitation and receipt. bribe.
But Trump continued to speak out about the immigration issue that Adams maligned, and called on federal authorities to make New York City pay for its response.
“It's really unfair to put this burden on us,” Trump said. “We shouldn't be doing this. This is New York City.”
Adams Office slams FBI officials who may have 'improperly leaked details' of corruption investigation
Former President Trump wished New York City Mayor Eric Adams the best of luck in his battle with the Justice Department. (Mr. Trump: Angelia Weiss/AFP via Getty Images; Mr. Adams: Rashid Umar Abbasi of Fox News Digital)
Trump, a former city resident, said the park was packed with people, adding that he recently passed the Roosevelt Hotel and didn't recognize it.
“He opposed it very strongly. He was right, by the way, because it is ruining our country,” he said. “He was honest and said I would be indicted within a year, and that's what happened.”
President Trump said the charges go back much further than when he was indicted in New York City.
President Trump confirmed that prosecutors had filed charges in both cases before the statute of limitations and said he wished him well.
“That's what they're doing. They're dirty players. They're bad people,” Trump said. “They cheat, they do whatever it takes. They're bad people. And we need an honest Justice Department. We need an honest FBI, and we need it right away.”
Adams Office slams FBI officials who may have 'improperly leaked details' of corruption investigation
Law enforcement officers vacate Mayor Eric Adams' Gracie Mansion in New York City on Thursday. (Rashid Umar Abbasi, Fox News Digital)
The FBI is reportedly investigating whether Adams' 2021 mayoral campaign was financed in collusion with the Turkish government or other groups. Some New York state officials are also under investigation over possible investigations into their contacts with China.
The alleged fraud siphoned even more public funds for the mayor's campaign under a program that matched small donations with matching grants of up to $2,000 supported by taxpayers, according to the indictment. A donation of as little as $250 from an individual could result in up to $2,000 in “matching funds” from taxpayers going to a candidate, according to court documents. It happened so often that Adams reportedly received $10 million from the program.
CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP
In addition to campaign donations, Adams also reportedly received perks such as free flights with Turkish Airlines to destinations in Europe and Asia, free hotel nights, and free gourmet meals. In one instance, a Turkish jet was said to have been approached to fly to Chile's Easter Island, but this was not possible because there was no route offered between New York and the South American country.
Fox News Digital's Michael Ruiz contributed to this report.
