Mayor Eric Adams turned himself in to federal authorities on Friday ahead of a scheduled court appearance in Manhattan, following a groundbreaking indictment that accuses him of engaging in a decade-long pattern of corruption.
Adams is the first sitting mayor of New York City to be indicted, with his initial court appearance set for noon. He faces charges of accepting bribes and illegal campaign contributions from foreign nationals in exchange for favors, and he is expected to plead not guilty.
As he arrived at the courthouse shortly before 9 a.m., Adams, maintaining a serious expression, gave a thumbs-up but did not speak.
Like any defendant, he underwent fingerprinting and an interview by court officials, and he will have his mugshot taken before the arraignment.
The recently unsealed indictment contains five counts and alleges that the Democrat received numerous improper gifts from Turkish officials and businesspeople, including $123,000 in complimentary hotel stays and discounted flights. Prosecutors also claim he fraudulently secured $10 million in public campaign funds.
In exchange for these benefits, Adams allegedly pressured city officials to waive fire inspections and expedited approval for a large Turkish Consulate in Manhattan.
Adams’ surrender followed a request from his lawyer, Alex Spiro, to postpone the arraignment until at least Monday to limit the mayor’s courthouse visits. A judge did not respond to that request immediately.
The mayor, who previously served as Brooklyn borough president from 2013 to 2021, is facing conspiracy, wire fraud, and bribery charges. He maintains his innocence and has stated that he does not intend to resign, expressing his determination to fight the charges.
At a news conference outside Gracie Mansion, Adams remarked, “It’s an unfortunate day. And it’s a painful day. But inside all of that is a day when we will finally reveal why, for 10 months, I’ve gone through this. And I look forward to defending myself.”
Earlier, Adams had suggested that the federal investigation was a result of his outspoken criticism regarding the city’s worsening migrant crisis. His lawyer argued that the travel perks and upgrades Adams accepted were standard for VIPs and public officials.
Despite their commitment to contest the charges, pressure for Adams to resign has intensified since the indictment news broke.
On Friday, Adams attempted to maintain a sense of normalcy, with meetings scheduled for 8 a.m. and 8:30 a.m. with senior administration officials, along with two additional meetings planned for after his court appearance.
If convicted on all five counts, Adams could face up to 45 years in prison.
