History in the Making: New York Mayor Becomes First Incumbent to Face Indictment on Criminal Charges

▶ Adams, 5 charges including bribery
▶Given bribes to Turkiye officials.
▶ Investigation into the relationship between 5 countries including Korea
▶ Claims innocence: “I will not resign”

New York City Mayor Eric Adams (64) has been indicted on federal criminal charges. Federal prosecutors revealed that Mayor Adams, who was the first incumbent mayor of New York to be criminally indicted, received luxury travel entertainment and illegal campaign funds from Turkiye years before he was elected mayor. It has been reported that federal prosecutors are additionally looking into Mayor Adams’ relationship with five countries, including Korea, in addition to Turkiye.

According to the indictment released by the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York on this day, federal prosecutors put Mayor Adams on trial for five crimes, including electronic financial fraud, bribery, and illegal election fund raising. The charges applied also included charges of conspiring to commit electronic financial fraud. Prosecutors determined that Mayor Adams had received inappropriate financial benefits from foreign businessmen and Turkic government officials since 2014, when he was mayor of Brooklyn, New York. Prosecutors determined that the amount of money received exceeded $100,000.

Prosecutors said that he received several free airline tickets or free upgrades to business class from Turkmenistan Airlines, and was provided with lodging at luxury hotels on several occasions while staying in the capital, Istanbul. Prosecutors also determined that campaign funds were raised from groups related to the Turkiye government in the 2021 New York mayoral election.

The United States strictly prohibits foreign governments, foreign nationals, and foreign organizations from providing election funds. Prosecutors claimed that Mayor Adams intentionally attempted to hide the fact that he had received this benefit by deleting messages related to it.

Meanwhile, Mayor Adams held a press conference in front of the official residence that day, claimed innocence, and expressed his intention not to resign from his position as mayor. Mayor Adams said at the press conference, “People who know me know that I followed the campaign rules and laws,” and added, “We ask New Yorkers to listen to our plea before passing judgment.”