New York
CNN
—
The New York City mayor pleaded not guilty Friday to federal corruption charges after prosecutors accused him of using his power and influence to get free trips, luxury hotel stays and questionable campaign donations.
Mayor Eric Adams is charged with bribery, wire fraud, conspiracy and two counts of soliciting campaign contributions from foreign nationals.
“I am not guilty, your honor,” Adams said Friday in lower Manhattan federal court.
Magistrate Judge Catherine Parker allowed Adams to go free after the trial – but with a caveat. The mayor cannot have contact with anyone related to the charges in the indictment.
Apart from that, the mayor can still maintain regular business contacts and communicate with family members. The judge also allowed Adams to keep his passport.
Adams’ appearance in court as a defendant is a stark contrast to his crime-fighting work as an NYPD captain — something he often touted in his political career.
The mayor, a Democrat elected in 2021, has denied wrongdoing and said he has no plans to resign. “I look forward to protecting myself and protecting the people of this city, as I have done my entire professional career,” Adams said Thursday.
Between 2016 and October 2023, according to the 57-page, 15,000-word indictment, Adams solicited and accepted benefits such as free luxury travel and campaign donations from foreign businessmen.
Adams allegedly committed 23 different “overt acts,” including accepting free flights and hotel rooms and coordinating hay donations.
Foreign nationals were able to circumvent federal law and hide their campaign donations through these “straw donors” — US-based donors who falsely claimed to be contributing their own money.
In 2017, Adams reportedly accepted free business class tickets for three roundtrip international flights and a deeply discounted stay in a suite at the St. Regis Istanbul. The trip was valued at $41,000, and Adams did not disclose it, the indictment alleges.
Adams reportedly accepted $123,000 worth of luxury travel benefits between 2016 and 2021.
By 2018, the mayor “not only accepted but also solicited illegal campaign contributions and other things of value from foreign nationals for his 2021 mayoral campaign.”
By January 2022, he agreed to accept foreign money contributions to his 2025 campaign. Accusation accuses.
New York Gov. Cathy Hochul’s team is telling allies and other stakeholders that it is now seriously considering the possibility of removing Adams from office — a power she has under state law.
A source on the governor’s thinking told CNN that Hochul has come to view Adams’ situation as “unacceptable.” But no result was declared.
Before Adams’ indictment was unsealed, Hochul reportedly did not consider firing the mayor. But after reviewing the indictment, the governor suggested in a statement late Thursday that he was keeping his options open.
“I look forward to the mayor reassessing the situation over the next few days and finding the right path to ensure the people of New York City are well served by their leaders,” Hochul said.
Lawyers in the governor’s office have begun looking at the statutory language of the removal authority, another source familiar with the situation told CNN.
While many local lawmakers called for Adams’ resignation, some top New York Democrats in Congress were less vocal. Both House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries and Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer stopped short of calling for Adams to step down in their latest comments.
“No one, including the mayor of New York City, is above the law,” Schumer said in a written statement Thursday. “The allegations are serious and the legal process must now be swift and fair.”
But Jefferies may come under pressure from New York House candidates who say the Adams scandal could hurt their election chances.
Adams is “entitled to the presumption of innocence,” Jeffries said, and “a jury of the mayor’s peers will now evaluate the allegations in the indictment and ultimately render a decision.”
Hochul and Adams had a good working relationship. The two have partnered on public safety issues — including crime in the city’s subways, which are controlled by the state. The relationship is a marked improvement from years past, when former mayors and governors of New York City clashed publicly over city policies and funding.
Long-time political activist Rev. Al Sharpton is meeting with the city’s black leaders this weekend, according to a person familiar with the planning.
Sharpton Adams is aware of the many “complications” of the situation and wants to explore all possibilities, the source said. Sharpton is also concerned about the impact the test will have on the city.
Community representatives and lawmakers, including Jeffries, are expected to attend the meeting — though Jeffries’ attendance has not been confirmed.
Jeffries and Adams have a lot in common, including their humble backgrounds and bare-knuckle campaigning styles. Although sources say the two New Yorkers have mutual respect for each other, the pair have never been close.
The congressman realizes that calling for the mayor’s resignation would “signal a sense of guilt” — and it’s not something he does or takes lightly, according to a person familiar with Jeffries’ thinking.
For the time being, the mayor cannot go to work for the city council. Adams will be arrested on Friday morning and will not be able to leave court until a magistrate decides on next steps.
After Friday’s hearing, Adams’ next court appearance before a district judge is scheduled for Wednesday.
It says Adams could face up to 45 years in prison if convicted on all charges US Attorney’s Office.
The most serious charge is wire fraud, which carries a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison. The indictment stemmed from allegations that Adams stole from a New York City matching funds program.
The program is designed to “give New Yorkers a greater voice in elections” and matches city residents’ donations with public funds. But it prohibits the use of straw donations, according to the indictment. The program requires candidates to certify compliance with campaign finance regulations.
The allegation is that Adams not only received illegal campaign contributions, but he allegedly used eight of those improper donations to match funds, receiving $2,000 for each illegal contribution. His campaign then falsely certified compliance, the indictment says.
The indictment does not total the amount that Adams allegedly received directly from the eight illegal hay donations, matching public funds. Adams’ 2021 mayoral campaign ultimately received more than $10 million in public funds from the city’s matching funds program, according to the indictment.
Bribery is punishable by up to 10 years in prison. The indictment alleges that the quid-pro-go involved allegedly receiving luxury travel benefits from a Turkish official in exchange for pushing approval from the Turkish House, a center for Turkish diplomatic missions in New York City.
Two counts of soliciting campaign contributions from foreign nationals are each punishable by up to 5 years in prison. One of the charges is based on allegations in 2021 and the other is based on allegations in 2023.
Finally, there is a conspiracy charge, which is punishable by up to 5 years in prison. The indictment alleges that Adams “and others known and unknown” agreed to commit federal crimes, including wire fraud; soliciting, accepting and receiving campaign contributions; and bribery.
This story has been updated with additional information.
