"Additional criminal conduct" by NYC Mayor Eric Adams uncovered, prosecutors say
NEW YORK -- There may be more legal problems for New York City Mayor Eric Adams.
Just months before his scheduled April trial date, federal prosecutors looking into corruption charges against him claim "law enforcement has continued to identify additional individuals involved in Adams' conduct, and to uncover additional criminal conduct by Adams."
Prosecutors made the claim in a court filing submitted Monday. They did not disclose what other alleged criminal conduct they claim to have found.
The new development raises new questions for Adams and his legal team. Will the feds file a superseding indictment and, if they do, will it complicate his run for reelection? A spokesperson for the U.S. attorney declined to comment on whether there would be a superseding indictment.
If there was one, it could push back Adams' April trial date, and that could eat into the time he has to campaign for reelection.
"This is amateur hour"
Asked about it Tuesday, Adams again insisted he's done nothing wrong and has been unjustly targeted by the feds.
"You know, even Ray Charles can see what's going on. And I have an attorney, Alex Spiro, he is handling that. I've said over and over again, I've done nothing wrong. Let the attorneys do that. I have to run the city," Adams said Tuesday.
The mayor and his legal team have insisted he was targeted because of his strident attack on the Biden's administration of the migrant crisis.
Spiro blasted the court filing.
"This is amateur hour. They are just looking for a headline instead of doing the right thing. I assume we are at the point where New Yorkers are not falling for it," Spiro said.
Spiro has argued the charges are based in part on testimony from Rana Abbasova, a woman who worked for Adams as a liaison to the Turkish community. Spiro said in the past that Abbasova is a disgruntled employee who has not told the truth.
"The indictment - the government said she lied," Spiro said back in September. "I am telling all of you, and the government knows this, that she then lies again, OK, about something very important, or I wouldn't keep talking about it... the main lie is that Eric Adams knew about anything having to do with this. That's the main lie. But there's lots of lies."
Adams faces bribery, corruption charges
Adams has pleaded not guilty to corruption charges that are mostly related to his relationship with various Turkish government officials and businesspeople from 2015 to 2022. Prosecutors allege Adams accepted tens of thousands of dollars in improper gifts, like travel benefits, and illegal campaign donations.
Prosecutors had previously said Adams might face additional charges, saying back in October after the initial charges were announced that it was "quite likely" they would seek a superseding indictment, and "possible" more charges would be filed, and would "likely" include additional defendants.
A federal judge previously declined to dismiss a bribery charge against Adams. His trial is set for April. So far, he faces five counts, including bribery, wire fraud, and soliciting campaign donations from foreign nationals.
A host of former top members of the Adams administration have also come under investigation and been indicted.
Adams has maintained his innocence throughout.
President-elect Donald Trump has said he would consider a pardon for Adams, saying "he was treated pretty unfairly."
