New York City Mayor Eric Adams, who is facing a federal indictment alleging he accepted illegal campaign contributions and lavish trips in exchange for favors, may occur before judge on Friday, The Associated Press reports.
The indictment, unsealed on Thursday, accuses the Democratic mayor of receiving improper gifts from Turkish officials and businesspeople, including free hotel stays and heavily discounted flights to destinations across the globe, including France, China, and Turkey itself.
Prosecutors claim Adams, in return for these perks, intervened on behalf of his patrons, including helping Turkey secure fire department approval for a new diplomatic tower in Manhattan despite concerns about its fire safety system.
Adams vehemently denies the charges, maintaining his innocence. His lawyer, Alex Spiro, asserted that accepting some travel benefits is standard practice for government officials and that his client never knowingly accepted illegal campaign contributions. He maintains that any assistance Adams provided to individuals navigating city bureaucracy was simply part of his official duties.
Adams is scheduled to make his initial court appearance Friday before Magistrate Judge Katharine Parker. However, his legal team has requested a delay until Monday, citing the need to minimize the mayor’s court appearances. The judge has yet to rule on this request.
The mechanics of Adams’ trip to court remain uncertain. While many facing federal charges are arrested, booked, and brought before a judge after a period of detention, this may not be the case for the mayor.
The indictment against Adams, encompassing charges of conspiracy, wire fraud, and bribery, raises questions about the scope of the federal investigations into the administration. Multiple separate inquiries involving Adams, his senior aides, and relatives of those aides are believed to be ongoing. In early September, federal investigators seized devices from key figures within the administration, including the police commissioner, schools chancellor, and several deputy mayors.
