Read the full NYC Mayor Eric Adams indictment for details on the bribery, campaign finance & conspiracy charges against him
NEW YORK - New York City Mayor Eric Adams has been indicted on bribery, campaign finance and conspiracy charges.
Adams pleaded not guilty to all charges in the five-count indictment, which are:
- Conspiracy to commit wire fraud, federal program bribery, and to receive campaign contributions from foreign nationals
- Wire fraud
- Solicitation of a contribution from a foreign national (two counts)
- Bribery
The indictment alleges that, since he became Brooklyn borough president in 2014, "Adams sought and accepted improper valuable benefits, such as luxury international travel, including from wealthy foreign businesspeople and at least one Turkish government official seeking to gain influence over him."
Prosecutors say that as Adams geared up to run for mayor in 2021, he "not only accepted, but sought illegal campaign contributions."
"After his inauguration as mayor of New York City, Adams soon began preparing for his next election, including by planning to solicit more illegal contributions and granting request from those who supported his 2021 mayoral campaign with such donations."
NYC Mayor Eric Adams Indictment by CBSNewYork Scribd on Scribd
You can read the full indictment here.
Adams allegedly created false paper trail
Federal investigators say Adams tried to cover up evidence by creating a false paper trail suggesting he paid for his travel.
Adams also allegedly assured a staffer he was deleting text messages between them.
The indictment says the mayor gave federal investigators his cellphone, but "claimed he had forgotten the password" because he'd changed it days earlier to keep his staff from "deleting the contents of his phone."
Investigators portrayed it as the mayor and others trying to conceal criminal conduct.
"[Adams] allegedly took steps to conceal those illegal contributions and personal benefits, and involved city employees and campaign staff in that concealment," said Jocelyn Strauber, commissioner of the New York City Department of Investigation.
"Just a clumsy cover up"
Brianna Suggs, Adams' campaign fundraiser, "called Adams five times" while the FBI was at her door with a search warrant, according to the indictment. She allegedly spoke to the agents, but "refused to say who paid for her 2021 travel to Turkey."
Another Adams staffer allegedly agreed to speak with the FBI, but "excused herself to a bathroom and, while there, deleted the encrypted messaging applications she had used to communicate with Adams."
"Concealment is the essence of fraud. If it were openly disclosed, it would not be fraud. So the act of concealment reveals not only fraudulent intent, but also, perhaps, consciousness of guilt," said David Shapiro, of John Jay College of Criminal Justice.
U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York Damian Williams said Adams sent email to a staffer directing her to send money to pay for flights he took to Turkey.
"As the indictment makes clear, that's just a clumsy cover up," Williams said.
"There's no corruption, this is not a real case. We're gonna see everybody in court," Adams' attorney Alex Spiro said.
It's unclear if anyone else will be charged.