NEW YORK (Reuters) – U.S. prosecutors charged Democratic New York Mayor Eric Adams on Thursday with accepting illegal contributions to his municipal campaign from Turkish nationals seeking to influence him.
In a 57-page indictment, prosecutors described an alleged scheme dating back to 2014 that notably helped finance Eric Adams’ 2021 municipal campaign.
Eric Adams also allegedly accepted luxury trips and meals in major restaurants.
In exchange, New York’s mayor pressured city officials to allow Turkey’s new consulate, a 36-story building, to open despite security concerns, prosecutors say.
The New York mayor faces five charges and faces decades in prison if convicted.
Eric Adams has denied wrongdoing and said he would fight the accusations in court, adding that he would not resign.
He is due to appear in court on Friday at midday (1600 GMT).
Neither the Turkish Foreign Ministry, the president’s office, or the Turkish embassy in Washington responded to requests for comment.
Eric Adams, a former police officer, is the first New York mayor to face criminal charges during his term in office.
He could be removed from office by New York State’s Democratic governor, Kathy Hochul, but such a procedure is complex, said Bennett Gershman, a professor at Pace University Law School.
(With Bing Guan and Jonathan Allen in New York, Katharine Jackson and Doina Chiacu in Washington, written by Andy Sullivan; French version Camille Raynaud)
by Luc Cohen and Jonathan Stempel
