New York Mayor Indicted on Bribery, Campaign Finance Charges

New York City’s Democratic mayor, Eric Adams, has been indicted on charges of illegal campaign financing and corruption in a Turkey-related investigation that has left him in even greater jeopardy as the leader of the largest city in the United States.

Unveiled Thursday morning, the indictment by the Manhattan federal prosecutor’s office includes charges of wire fraud, illegal solicitation of campaign contributions from a foreign person and accepting bribes from a Turkish official.

In exchange, Eric Adams allegedly used his influence on a project to build a skyscraper to house Turkey’s mission to the United Nations and its consulate general, according to the 50-page court document.

He hid from the public that he was secretly showered with gifts [et a maintenu] the public in the dark year after year.

What is alleged in the indictment – ​​the foreign money, the corporate money, the years of cover-ups – shows that there [Eric Adams] has seriously broken the bond of trust with the publicthe prosecutor added during a press briefing, while calls for the mayor’s resignation have multiplied among New York’s Democratic elected officials.

The mayor replied that he was impatient to defend himself, after having proclaimed his innocence, during a press briefing in front of his residence, which was searched early Thursday morning.

He promised to continue his work with New Yorkers, implicitly ruling out resigning.

More and more fragile

But this indictment sounds like a bolt from the blue and further weakens the mayor of the largest city in the United States (8.5 million inhabitants), a former African-American New York police captain elected in 2021 on promises of security, who saw his popularity rating fall during his term, while cases targeting the city hall have multiplied.

I voted for him because he was a former police officer, I thought the city needed him. And I thought having a black mayor was a very positive thing after the movement. Black Lives Matter. But it is a disappointment. He must resign.told theAFP New York voter Bartholomew Bland, walking through the bustling train station Grand Centralin Manhattan.

His indictment also risks embarrassing the Democratic camp, 40 days before the presidential election between Kamala Harris and the Republican Donald Trump, neck and neck in the polls.

Multiple surveys

I always knew that if I stood up for New Yorkers, I would be a target – and I was.Eric Adams defended himself. If I am charged, I am innocent and I will fight with all my strength and spirit.added the 64-year-old mayor.

At least four federal investigations are underway, including three led by the Manhattan prosecutor’s office, targeting the mayor and his associates, several of whom have resigned in recent days.

In November 2023, the Federal Bureau of Investigation seized the mayor’s cell phones and electronic devices and raided the home of a fundraiser for his campaign.

Abandoned by his allies

The indictment comes after several of the mayor’s allies have resigned in recent days, including his health commissioner and the education chancellor, a close aide to him. Police Chief Edward Caban, who is also under investigation, resigned earlier in September, just a year after taking office. New York Police Department (NYPD) and its 36,000 officers.

On Wednesday, even before the mayor’s indictment was announced, New York House Representative and left-wing figure Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez called on Eric Adams to resign, for the good of the city.

These calls multiplied during the evening from several other elected Democrats.

Eric Adams won the 2021 Democratic primary on a promise to curb crime, which had spiked in New York City during the COVID-19 pandemic. He has credited a decline in violent crime, but New Yorkers are also grappling with rising living costs and a housing crisis that has driven rents to record levels.

By the end of 2023, the mayor’s approval rating had fallen to a record low of 28% in one poll. In that context, several rivals have declared themselves candidates for the party’s primary in 2025.