Eric Adams ‘Likely’ Facing Additional Charges, Prosecutors Say
by Ty Roush · ForbesTopline
Prosecutors on Wednesday said New York City Mayor Eric Adams will “likely” face additional charges, according to multiple reports, less than a week after Adams was indicted on federal charges of bribery and fraud for allegedly receiving illegal campaign donations from the Turkish government.
Key Facts
Prosecutor Hagan Cordell said it is “quite likely” Adams, who appeared during a hearing Wednesday in Manhattan federal court, will face unspecified additional charges as “there are several related investigations here,” ABC News reported.
Adams, 64, pleaded not guilty last week to conspiracy to commit wire fraud, federal program bribery and to receive campaign contributions by foreign nationals, wire fraud, two counts of solicitation of a contribution by a foreign national and bribery.
Alex Spiro, Adams’ attorney, has requested the court to dismiss the bribery charge and sanction the prosecution for allegedly publicly leaking details about the case, according to court documents.
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What To Watch For
Judge Dale Ho has requested prosecutors respond to Spiro’s request to drop the bribery charge by Oct. 18, The New York Times reported.
Key Background
Adams, New York City’s second Black mayor and a former captain of the city’s police department, was charged last week following a monthslong investigation. Prosecutors claim Adams sought out and accepted illegal contributions to his 2021 mayoral campaign from the Turkish government. Turkish officials provided Adams with gifts, including free or discounted Turkish Airlines flights, among others, in exchange for Adams speeding up safety tests for a new high-rise consulate building for Turkey. Prosecutors also allege Adam received donations from straw donors, or people who illegally use another person’s funds to make a political contribution, to defraud the city of about $10 million in public matching funds. Spiro has criticized the charges as “not a real case,” while Adams has rejected calls to resign.