The US government has accused Eric Adams, the mayor of New York City, of accepting bribes from Turkish nationals. This has made him the first mayor in the city’s 400-year history to be charged with federal crimes while in office.
The indictment, unsealed by federal prosecutors in the Southern District of New York (SDNY), includes charges of conspiracy, wire fraud, solicitation of campaign contributions from foreign nationals, and bribery. Allegations state that Adams received upgrades from Turkish Airlines and luxury hotels in Türkiye, along with illegal campaign donations that allowed him to claim matching funds from the State of New York.
Adams has denied the charges, calling them false and based on lies. He also suggested that he was being politically persecuted. The investigation involves alleged connections with several countries, and key members of Adams’ staff have also come under scrutiny.
While corruption probes have touched every NYC mayor’s office in the last 45 years, Adams stands out as the first mayor to be charged with crimes while in office.