Stephanie Keith
A grand jury indicted New York City Mayor Eric Adams on five criminal counts related to a federal corruption investigation this week.
Federal prosecutors on Thursday unveiled a 57-page indictment against Adams, who is the first sitting mayor of New York to be indicited while in office. Officials allege the Democratic politician solicited $100,000 worth of luxury travel from foreign businesspeople, including a Turkish official who spent nearly 10 years trying to "gain influence" over Adams.
Prosecutors alleged Adams repaid the favors by approving paperwork for the Turkish House, a skyscraper in Manhattan that is home to Turkey's consulate. The then-Borough President of Brooklyn also agreed to refrain from commenting about the Armenian genocide, prosecutors alleged in the indictment.
In a defiant Thursday press conference, Adams denied the charges against him and vowed to continue in his role as mayor, rebuking calls for his resignation.
He is expected to be arraigned on Friday, according to court records. If convicted, he could face up to 45 years in prison.
Adams faces one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud, federal program bribery, and to receive campaign contributions from foreign nationals; one count of wire fraud; one count of bribery; and two counts of solicitation of a contribution by a foreign national.
"These upgrades and freebies were not part of some frequent flyer or loyalty program available to the general public," Damian Williams, the US attorney in Manhattan, said during a Thursday press conference. "As we allege, this was a multi-year scheme to buy favor with a single New York politician on the rise."
As a city official, Adams should have disclosed the gifts and travel benefits, Williams said.
These are the travel benefits and luxury perks federal prosecutors allege Adams has solicited since 2016.
In 2016, Adams flew from New York to India by way of Turkey and received two free round-trip upgrades for business class seats, prosecutors allege. Business is the highest class on Turkey's national airline, Williams said.
The benefits were worth more than $12,000, according to the indictment. Adams failed to publicly disclose the perks, prosecutors said.
In 2017, Adams accepted free business class tickets for himself and travel companions to France, Turkey, and China, per the indictment. While in Istanbul, Adams was put up in the Bentley Suite at the St. Regis Hotel, Williams said.
These benefits were worth more than $41,000, prosecutors alleged in the indictment. Adams failed to publicly disclose them, according to prosecutors.
Prosecutors allege Adams flew to China by way of Turkey in 2017. On the trip, he accepted two free business class tickets for himself and a companion worth more than $16,000, according to the indictment.
Adams did not disclose the benefits, per prosecutors.
In 2018, Adams flew to Hungary by way of Turkey and accepted two free roundtrip upgrades for business class seats worth more than $12,000, prosecutors allege.
Adams did not disclose the benefits, according to officials.
Prosecutors alleged in the indictment that Adams flew to Turkey in 2019 and accepted business class upgrades for himself and his companion, as well as a free stay in the St. Regis Hotel in Istanbul. Adams also enjoyed free meals, transportation, and entertainment while in Istanbul, according to the indictment.
The travel benefits were worth more than $9,000 and Adams failed to disclose them, prosecutors said.
In 2021, Adams solicited and accepted a trip to Turkey worth more than $21,000 before canceling the travel at the last minute, prosecutors said.
The canceled benefits included two business-class tickets to Istanbul, free or steeply discounted luxury hotel and resort stays, transportation, including a yacht, and tours and meals, Williams said during the press conference.
Adams did not disclose the travel, per the indictment.
Prosecutors allege Adams flew to Ghana by way of Turkey in 2021 and accepted free business-class ticket upgrades and other gifts while on his layover in Istanbul.
The perks were worth more than $12,000, and none of them were disclosed, according to the indictment.
