Mayor Adams is charged with conspiracy to commit wire fraud, federal program bribery and to receiving campaign contributions from foreign nationals, wire fraud and bribery in a federal indictment unsealed Thursday as part of a City Hall federal corruption investigation.
Sources familiar with the matter told the News Wednesday they stem from an investigation by the Manhattan U.S. attorney’s office that has scrutinized allegations that Turkey’s government funneled illegal donations into Adams’ 2021 campaign coffers. Earlier this month, it was revealed that probe is also looking at communications between Adams and the governments of five other foreign countries.
“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 video statement late Wednesday after news broke that he had been indicted in the long-brewing corruption probe. “If I am charged, I am innocent and I will fight this with every ounce of my strength and spirit.”
Several elected officials and advocates have called on Adams to resign in light of the indictment, claiming he can’t oversee city government while defending himself in a criminal federal case.
Last November, the feds seized multiple phones and electronic devices from the mayor as part of their corruption probe.
Adams is the first New York City mayor in the modern era to face criminal charges while in office. His administration has been reeling in recent weeks from additional investigations and a series of high-profile resignations.
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