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Foreign bribes, cheap flights: What is Eric Adams accused of? What was NYC Mayor Eric Adams accused of? The charges explained
(5 months later)
Watch: The NYC mayor's dramatic day in under 60 seconds Watch: The NYC mayor's dramatic allegations in under 60 seconds
US prosecutors have charged New York City Eric Adams with bribery and fraud charges as part of a "long-running" scheme that has upended politics in America's largest city. US prosecutors have filed a motion to drop charges against New York City Eric Adams that accused him of bribery and fraud as part of a "long-running" scheme to enrich himself while working with foreign officials.
As part of what officials have described as an "abuse of power", Adams is alleged to have accepted illegal gifts worth over $100,000 (£75,000) from Turkish citizens and at least one government official. The request to drop the charges will require approval by a judge.
In exchange, Turkish officials are believed to have sought favours from the mayor, including help skirting safety regulations to open a consulate in New York, according to prosecutors. Adams is alleged to have accepted illegal gifts worth over $100,000 (£75,000) from Turkish citizens and at least one government official.
Adams, a former police captain, has denied any wrongdoing and vowed to fight the allegations in court. Adams, a former police captain, denied any wrongdoing and pleaded not guilty.
Here's what we know.Here's what we know.
What is Eric Adams accused of? What is the latest in the case?
In early February, an order from acting deputy attorney general Emil Bove, who was appointed by Donald Trump, said the indictment had "restricted" the mayor's ability to address "illegal immigration and violent crime" in the city.
Bove ordered local federal prosecutors to drop the charges, triggering a backlash from the group of seasoned lawyers who issued statements opposing the move.
More than half a dozen prosecutors said they would refuse the order, because the justice department had not provided sufficient legal justification to drop the charges.
Who is Danielle Sassoon, prosecutor who quit in protest from Trump justice department?
According to Reuters, the acting deputy called the prosecutors into a room on 14 February and threatened to fire anyone who did not execute the order.
"No system of ordered liberty can allow the Government to use the carrot of dismissing charges, or the stick of threatening to bring them again, to induce an elected official to support its policy objectives," one prosecutor, Hagan Scotten, wrote in a resignation letter.
"If no lawyer within earshot of the President is willing to give him that advice, then I expect you will eventually find someone who is enough of a fool, or enough of a coward, to file your motion," he continued.
Another prosecutor who quit over the order, Danielle Sassoon, said Adams' lawyers had met justice department officials and asked for a "quid pro quo", saying the New York City mayor could help enforce Trump's immigration policies if the case against him was dismissed.
Adams denied her claim, telling Fox News that she was accusing him of "a crime".
What was Eric Adams accused of?
Eric Adams is facing five separate criminal counts, including "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.Eric Adams is facing five separate criminal counts, including "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.
According to the 57-page indictment, Adams allegedly accepted more than $100,000 in luxury travel - including hotel stays, lavish meals and airline upgrades - from Turkish nationals beginning in 2016, when he still served as president of the New York borough of Brooklyn. According to the 57-page indictment, Adams is alleged to have accepted more than $100,000 in luxury travel - including hotel stays, lavish meals and airline upgrades - from Turkish nationals beginning in 2016, when he still served as president of the New York borough of Brooklyn.
In one instance, for example, Adams is alleged to have received a "heavily discounted" stay at the "Bentley Room" of Istanbul's St Regis hotel, paying $600 for a two-day visit that was valued at approximately $7,000.In one instance, for example, Adams is alleged to have received a "heavily discounted" stay at the "Bentley Room" of Istanbul's St Regis hotel, paying $600 for a two-day visit that was valued at approximately $7,000.
"This was a multi-year scheme to buy favour with a single New York City politician on the rise," US Attorney Damian Williams said at a news conference.
Additionally, Adams is alleged to have sought out campaign contributions from Turkish sources for his 2021 mayoral election campaign.Additionally, Adams is alleged to have sought out campaign contributions from Turkish sources for his 2021 mayoral election campaign.
None of this was publicly declared, and prosecutors claim Adams used "straw donors" to hide the sources of the money, and at times created "fake paper trails" that suggested he paid, or intended to pay, for the gifts. None of this was publicly declared, and prosecutors claimed Adams used "straw donors" to hide the sources of the money, and at times created "fake paper trails" that suggested he paid, or intended to pay, for the gifts.
What is the wire fraud charge?What is the wire fraud charge?
One of the charges in the indictment, wire fraud, stems from allegations that Adams devised a scheme to obtain money "by making false and fraudulent pretences" in his dealings. One of the charges in the indictment - wire fraud - stems from allegations that Adams devised a scheme to obtain money "by making false and fraudulent pretences" in his dealings.
Specifically, prosecutors claim that the money Adams obtained from Turkey allowed him to qualify for a public financing programme that provides eligible political candidates with funds to match donations from New York City residents.Specifically, prosecutors claim that the money Adams obtained from Turkey allowed him to qualify for a public financing programme that provides eligible political candidates with funds to match donations from New York City residents.
As part of the initiative, known as the Matching Funds Program, candidates are prohibited from accepting contributions from people who are not US citizens or lawful residents, as well as corporations and foreign entities and organisations.As part of the initiative, known as the Matching Funds Program, candidates are prohibited from accepting contributions from people who are not US citizens or lawful residents, as well as corporations and foreign entities and organisations.
According to the justice department, Adams fraudulently obtained as much as $2,000 in public funds for each illegal contribution. According to the justice department filing, Adams fraudulently obtained as much as $2,000 in public funds for each illegal contribution.
Adams is alleged to have paid $600 for a $7,000 stay in the Bentley Suite of Istanbul's St RegisAdams is alleged to have paid $600 for a $7,000 stay in the Bentley Suite of Istanbul's St Regis
What did Adams allegedly do in exchange?What did Adams allegedly do in exchange?
In exchange for the campaign contributions and lavish travel, Adams is alleged to have responded to a variety of concerns from Turkish nationals and at least one government official.In exchange for the campaign contributions and lavish travel, Adams is alleged to have responded to a variety of concerns from Turkish nationals and at least one government official.
In 2016, for example, the indictment claims that Adams was told that he would cut ties with a Turkish community centre in Brooklyn after a Turkish official told him it was affiliated with a group "hostile" to Turkey's government. In 2016, for example, the indictment claimed that Adams was told that he would cut ties with a Turkish community centre in Brooklyn after a Turkish official told him it was affiliated with a group "hostile" to Turkey's government.
That Turkish official also reportedly told him that he could no longer associate with the centre if he wished to keep receiving "support" from Turkey's government.That Turkish official also reportedly told him that he could no longer associate with the centre if he wished to keep receiving "support" from Turkey's government.
In another instance in 2021, prosecutors allege that Adams - at the behest of a Turkish diplomat - also pressured an official from New York's fire department to help make sure the new Turkish consular building in the city was ready for a visit from Turkey's president - without a fire inspection. In another instance in 2021, prosecutors alleged that Adams - at the behest of a Turkish diplomat - also pressured an official from New York's fire department to help make sure the new Turkish consular building in the city was ready for a visit from Turkey's president - without a fire inspection.
The fire department official responsible for the assessment of the skyscraper consulate building was told he would lose his job if he failed to approve the building, prosecutors allege. The fire department official responsible for the assessment of the skyscraper consulate building was told he would lose his job if he failed to approve the building, prosecutors alleged.
In that instance, the indictment claims that a Turkish official told Adams it was "his turn to repay" him.In that instance, the indictment claims that a Turkish official told Adams it was "his turn to repay" him.
"After Adams intervened, the skyscraper opened as requested by the Turkish official," the indictment says."After Adams intervened, the skyscraper opened as requested by the Turkish official," the indictment says.
Adams has denied these claims as well. Adams has denied these claims, saying: "I know I don't take money from foreign donors."
"I know I don't take money from foreign donors," he said on Thursday.
Could Adams go to prison? Was Adams facing jail time?
In theory, Adams could face a lengthy prison sentence for the charges. In theory, Adams is facing a lengthy prison sentence for the charges.
The wire fraud count alone carries a maximum sentence of 20 years, while both counts of soliciting campaign contributions from foreign nationals each carry a maximum sentence of five years.The wire fraud count alone carries a maximum sentence of 20 years, while both counts of soliciting campaign contributions from foreign nationals each carry a maximum sentence of five years.
The bribery charge carries a maximum charge of 10 years in prison.The bribery charge carries a maximum charge of 10 years in prison.
The remaining charge, "conspiracy to commit wire fraud, federal program bribery, and to receive campaign contributions by foreign nationals" carries with it a maximum sentence of five years.The remaining charge, "conspiracy to commit wire fraud, federal program bribery, and to receive campaign contributions by foreign nationals" carries with it a maximum sentence of five years.
In the shorter-term, the charges are likely to imperil Adams' political future ahead of his 2025 re-election bid. In the shorter-term, the charges could still imperil Adams' political future ahead of his 2025 re-election bid.
Dozens of lawmakers, including members of New York's city council and Democratic US Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortes, have called on him to step down. The governor of New York state, Kathy Hochul, has the power to remove Adams from office.
Adams has vowed to fight the charges and called for an "immediate" trial, resisting calls to resign. While she has not said she would take such action, she also indicated on Friday she hasn't entirely ruled it out.
"I will continue to do my job as mayor," he said at a news conference.