New York City Mayor Eric Adams is set to appear in Manhattan federal court on Friday, facing charges of accepting bribes and illegal campaign contributions from Turkish nationals.
The Democrat, resisting calls from within his party to resign, is expected to plead not guilty before U.S. Magistrate Judge Katharine Parker. His initial appearance in court is slated to happen at noon local time.
Federal prosecutors allege that Adams, 64, received luxury travel perks, including expensive hotel stays and meals, in exchange for pressuring city officials to approve the opening of Turkey’s new 36-story consulate in 2021 despite safety concerns. The indictment, unsealed Thursday, claims that the illegal contributions date back to 2014, when Adams was Brooklyn borough president, and helped finance his 2021 mayoral campaign.
The indictment also claims Adams received tens of thousands of dollars in free travel from a Turkish airline and underpaid for luxury accommodations in Istanbul. He allegedly funneled campaign contributions from Turkish sources through U.S. citizens to qualify for additional public financing, violating U.S. campaign laws.
Adams has denied any wrongdoing, stating at a press conference on Thursday, “I will continue to do my job as mayor.” If convicted of the five criminal charges, Adams could face decades in prison.
After the mayor’s arraignment was scheduled for Friday, attorneys for Adams made an eleventh-hour request on Thursday to postpone the mayor’s first appearance in court till Monday, though the request was denied.
The judge randomly assigned to oversee the broader trial is U.S. District Judge Dale Ho, an appointee of President Joe Biden and a former American Civil Liberties Union lawyer who had a contentious nomination process last year in which he was narrowly confirmed in the Senate by a 50-49 vote.
Ho’s role in the trial could be a legacy-defining moment for the judge as he weighs the case against the first New York City mayor to face criminal charges while in office.
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Political pressure is on Adams as federal investigations also target senior city officials and members of the mayor’s inner circle. Several New York Democrats, including Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, have called for his resignation, while others, such as Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, have refrained from doing so.
Gov. Kathy Hochul (D-NY) has stated she is reviewing her options regarding Adams’s future as mayor.