In a stunning turn of events, Mayor Eric Adams has been indicted on charges alleging that he accepted $10 million in illegal campaign contributions and bribes, including luxury flights and extravagant perks, from foreign nationals in exchange for favors.
This bombshell indictment, unsealed by Manhattan prosecutors on Thursday, marks the first time a sitting New York City mayor has faced such serious allegations.
The five-count indictment outlines a decade-long pattern of corruption, with Adams being charged by a grand jury on conspiracy, wire fraud, and bribery counts amid a prolonged federal investigation.
The 57-page document details that Adams, who became Brooklyn Borough President in 2014, allegedly sought and accepted improper benefits, such as luxury international travel, from wealthy foreign businesspeople and at least one Turkish government official attempting to gain influence over him. As Adams's power and prominence grew, his foreign benefactors reportedly sought to exploit their corrupt connections, particularly as he emerged as a frontrunner for New York City mayor in 2021.
The indictment claims, “Adams agreed, providing favorable treatment in exchange for the illicit benefits he received.” Sources had previously suggested that the charges were linked to allegations that the Turkish government illegally funneled money into Adams's mayoral campaign in return for approval of the Turkish consulate in Manhattan.
Furthermore, the indictment alleges that Adams accepted illegal campaign contributions through “nominee” or “straw” donors—individuals who falsely certified that they were contributing their own money, allowing the true contributors to bypass federal laws designed to prevent foreign influence in U.S. elections. By facilitating these transactions through U.S.-based straw donors, Adams’s foreign contributors sought to undermine the integrity of the electoral process.
* The New York Post contributed to this article.
