Eric Adams, the Democratic mayor of New York, may have accepted bribes and illegal donations from foreign nationals, the report wrote. Sky News. The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) searched the politician's home on Thursday, and criminal proceedings were initiated against him.
The mayor is accused of accepting bribes and free and discounted luxury trips worth more than $100,000 from a Turkish official, among others, according to the indictment filed by the Manhattan District Attorney's Office. This made Adams the first New York mayor to be indicted while in office.
“I can't wait to defend myself”
Adams said in a news conference shortly after the indictment was issued. He said he would not resign as mayor and asked New Yorkers to “wait for their defense before passing judgment.” He also said his agenda will not change because of the indictment, and that he will continue to work for the 8.3 million people in New York.
New York attorney Damien Williams said in a later news conference that Adams knew he was violating the law when he accepted the donations. According to the lawyer, Adams should have disclosed what he was accepting. Instead, he continued to hide it from the public, Williams said.
According to prosecutors, Adams not only accepted but specifically sought the possibility of making illegal campaign contributions during his mayoral campaign. Among the destinations of the trips organized by the Turkish official are France, China, Sri Lanka, India, Turkey and Hungary.
Eric Adams was a former New York City police officer who spent 22 years in the service. Later, he was a member of the Senate, and then in New York he became president of the Brooklyn borough. He was elected Mayor of New York in 2021.
