New York City Mayor Eric Adams has been indicted in the midst of a federal corruption investigation.
Sources told news agencies about the indictment, but the indictment itself is sealed, so it’s not known what charges the mayor will face, The indictment is expected to be unsealed later on Thursday. US Attorney for the Southern District of New York Damian Williams plans a news conference at 11:30 a.m.
Federal agents were seen at Gracie Mansion, the home of New York’s mayor, early Thursday morning to execute search warrants, the New York Daily News said.
The US Department of Justice does not have a “policy” barring indictments of sitting chief executives on a state or local level.
According to CBS News, investigators have been looking into Adams’ ties with multiple foreign actors, including Turkey, Israel, China, Qatar, South Korea and Uzbekistan, beginning with a raid nearly a year ago on the home of the may’s chief fundraiser, Brianna Suggs.
Adams responded to news of the indictment with a video message in which he said whatever charges he faces are “entirely false, based on lies” although “they would not be surprising,” CBS said.
“Now, if I am charged, many may say I should resign because I cannot manage the city while fighting the case,” the mayor said. “I can also understand everyday New Yorkers will be concerned that I cannot do my job while I face accusations. But I have been facing these lies for months, since I begin to speak out for all of you and their investigation started. Yet the city has continued to improve. Make no mistake, you elected me to lead this city and lead it I will. I humbly ask for your prayers and your patience as we see this through. God bless you, and God bless the city of New York. Thank you.”
In particular, federal agencies are believed to be looking to determine if Adams’ 2021 campaign received illegal donations from Turkey in exchange for approval of a Turkish consulate in Manhattan over safety concerns.
Adams, 64, is a former NYPD captain and Brooklyn borough president.
Multiple raids have been conducted in connection with the probes, and a spate of resignations — including Police Commissioner Edward Caban earlier this month — have plagued Adams’ administration, NBC News reports. According to ABC News, the city’s chief counsel Lisa Zornberg resigned two days after Caban and two days after that two retired fire chiefs were arrested. Federal agents executed a search warrant Friday on the home of the interim police commissioner, and the chancellor of schools resigned two days after that.
Should Adams reverse course and resign, New York’s public advocate, Jumaane Williams, would become interim mayor until a new election is held, NBC said. New York Gov. Kathy Hochul, who has the power to remove Adams from office, is “monitoring the situation,” according to her press secretary, Avi Small.
“It would be premature to comment further until the matter is confirmed by law enforcement,” Small said.
