The elected Democrat had been the target of an investigation for several months into accusations of illegal donations from construction companies linked to Turkey. Calls for his resignation are increasing.
Democratic New York Mayor Eric Adams has been indicted on five counts by federal prosecutors in Manhattan. The solicitation of illegal electoral campaign financing and corruption, in an investigation linked to Turkey were retained, indicates a court document. The Manhattan prosecutor accuses Eric Adams of having been “watered” with bribes in secret. He adds that Eric Adams has “seriously broken the bond of trust with the public”.
“He told the public that he had not received any gifts, although he was secretly showered with them,” Damian Williams said at a press conference. The mayor has crossed “bright red lines” for years and “other people will be held accountable” in the investigation against him, he added.
After the announcement of his indictment, the accused said he « impatient » to defend oneself. « I can’t wait to defend myself », he declared, before adding that he « will continue to do the job » as mayor of the city.
A search carried out this Thursday morning
This Thursday morning, the residence of New York Mayor Eric Adams was searched. The 64-year-old mayor of New York has been the target of an investigation for several months into accusations of illegal donations from construction companies linked to Turkey according to the New York Times. The announcement of the indictment comes after the resignation of several close to the councilor in recent days.
On Wednesday, even before this announcement, the elected representative of New York to the House of Representatives and figure of the left Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez called on the 64-year-old councilor to resign, « for the good of the city ». Eric Adams said to himself « innocent » Wednesday evening. « I always knew that if I stood up for the interests of New Yorkers, I would be a target – and I became one »he said in a statement. « If I am charged, I am innocent and I will fight with all my strength and spirit »he added.
Unpopularity record
« I voted for him because he was a former police officer, I thought the city needed him. And I found that having a black mayor was very positive after the “Black Lives Matter” movement. But it’s a disappointment. He must resign »declared a New York voter, Bartholomew Bland, as he crossed the teeming Grand Central station in Manhattan.
New York City Hall has seen business increase in recent months. At least four federal investigations are underway, including three led by the Manhattan prosecutor’s office, targeting the mayor and his relatives. This week, Eric Adams’ team was shaken by the resignation announcements of the city’s health commissioner, Ashwin Vasan, and education chancellor, David C. Banks, a close friend of Eric Adams who manages the city’s entire public education system, representing one million students. Police Chief Edward Caban had already resigned earlier in September, just one year after taking over as head of the New York Police Department (NYPD) and its 36,000 officers.
Eric Adams won the 2021 Democratic primary on the promise of reducing crime, which had skyrocketed in New York during the Covid pandemic. He was able to credit a reduction in violent crime, but New Yorkers also have to deal with the rising cost of living and a housing crisis that has pushed rents to unprecedented levels. At the end of 2023, his popularity rate had fallen to its lowest, to 28% in a poll. In this context, several rivals have declared themselves candidates for a party primary in 2025.
