New York City Democrat Mayor Eric Adams has reportedly been indicted in the federal criminal corruption investigation that has cast a dark cloud over his administration for nearly a year.
The New York Times reported that the indictment remains under seal and it is unclear what charges he faces, but once it’s unsealed, he will be the first NYC mayor to be charged while in office.
“I always knew that If I stood my ground for New Yorkers that I would be a target—and a target I became,” Adams said in a statement. “If I am charged, I am innocent and I will fight this with every ounce of my strength and spirit.”
The investigation had initially centered around whether he conspired with the Turkish government to funnel illegal foreign contributions to his campaign in exchange for actions that he took as mayor. Investigators were also looking at whether he got free flight upgrades from an airline owned by the Turkish government.
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The Times reported earlier this week that prosecutors subpoenaed City Hall, Adams, and his campaign two months ago for additional information related to China, Qatar, Uzbekistan, South Korea, and Israel.
The New York Post reported that U.S. Attorney Damian Williams is expected to announce the charges tomorrow when the indictment is unsealed, and sources told the publication that Adams will turn himself in early next week.
“I do not see how Mayor Adams can continue governing New York City,” said far-left Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY) in a statement earlier in the day.
“The flood of resignations and vacancies are threatening gov function. Nonstop investigations will make it impossible to recruit and retain a qualified administration,” she continued. “For the good of the city, he should resign.”
Adams has seen numerous people in his orbit come under criminal investigation over the last year.
The FBI executed search warrants earlier this month at the home of Deputy Mayor for Public Safety Philip Banks and a home shared by First Deputy Mayor Sheena Wright and Schools Chancellor David Banks. Investigators seized phones belonging to then-NYPD Commissioner Edward Caban and Timothy Pearson, a senior adviser to the mayor. A consultant, Terence Banks, brother of Philip Banks and David Banks, was also searched.
The feds raided the home of Adams’ director of Asian Affairs, Winnie Greco, earlier this year as part of a criminal probe run by the Eastern District of New York, the Times said. His former buildings commissioner, Eric Ulrich, faces bribery charges, and several donors to Adams’ campaign have been charged in a straw-donor scheme.
Caban resigned from his post last week and his successor, interim Commissioner Thomas Donlon, was raided by the FBI late last week.
