NYC Mayor Adams Faces the Music: Pleads Not Guilty to Explosive Bribery Charges

Delivery time2024-09-28 03:32

Accepting money and valuables from Turkic officials and others… Suspicion of preferential treatment in building permits in return

Appointment of star lawyer who defended Musk and others… Controversy spreads within the party over resignation from mayoral position

(New York = Yonhap News) Correspondent Lee Ji-heon = Mayor Eric Adams (64), the first incumbent mayor of New York to be criminally indicted, appeared in court on the 27th (local time) and denied charges of receiving bribes and illegal campaign funds from Turkic officials. did it

According to Reuters, Mayor Adams appeared at the indictment hearing held at the Southern District Court in New York on this day and pleaded not guilty when Magistrate Catherine Parker asked whether he would admit to five criminal charges, including bribery.

His lawyer, Alex Spiro, said he plans to file a motion to dismiss the indictment next week.

Spiro is a star lawyer who worked as a lawyer for Tesla CEO Elon Musk and others.

Mayor Adams will be released without paying separate bail and will be tried without detention on the condition that he not contact witnesses or people listed in the indictment.

According to the indictment released the day before, Mayor Adams was put on trial for five crimes, including electronic financial fraud, bribery, and illegal election fund raising.

U.S. federal prosecutors said that Mayor Adams received inappropriate bribes and benefits from foreign businessmen and Turkic government officials since 2014, when he was mayor of Brooklyn, New York, and that the amount of bribes exceeded $100,000 (about 130 million won).

Prosecutors also determined that in the 2021 New York mayoral election, he raised campaign funds from groups related to Turkyeong’s government.

The United States strictly prohibits foreign governments, foreign nationals, and foreign organizations from providing election funds.

Prosecutors determined that in return for these benefits, Mayor Adams exerted pressure on fire officials in 2021 to unreasonably grant a temporary use permit for the ‘Turkiye House’, which the Turkiye government was constructing in New York City, and charged him with bribery. applied.

In addition to the relationship between Mayor Adams and Turkiye, the prosecution is said to be additionally looking into the relationship with five countries, including Korea, Israel, China, Qatar, and Uzbekistan.

Meanwhile, Mayor Adams held a press conference the day before, claimed innocence, and expressed his intention not to resign from his position as mayor.

Mayor Adams said at the press conference, “Anyone who knows me knows that I followed the campaign rules and laws,” and added, “We ask New Yorkers to hear our plea before making judgment.”

Meanwhile, voices within the party calling for Mayor Adams’ resignation are growing louder.

Democratic Congressman Jerry Nadler (New York) called for Mayor Adams’ resignation on this day, and an increasing number of members of the New York City City Council joined the call for resignation.

On the other hand, Democratic Senate Leader Chuck Schumer and Democratic Congressional Leader Hakeem Jeffries, both from New York, did not call for Mayor Adams’ resignation.

New York State Governor Cathy Hocal, who has the power to fire mayors, met with reporters the day before and said, “I will review my options and obligations as governor.”

Mayor Adams, a former New York police officer and politician, was elected as the 110th mayor of New York City with a pledge to curb crime and began work in January 2022, and his term of office will be four years until January 2026.

pan@yna.co.kr

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2024/09/28 03:32 Sent