NYC Mayor Eric Adams addresses DOJ calls for corruption charges dropped. What to know
New York Mayor Eric Adams Tuesday addressed the news of the Trump administration's Justice Department intervening into Adams' federal criminal case.
Adams' tenure as mayor has been embroiled in scandal, as he was the target of a lawsuit alleging sexual assault and multiple investigations. In September, Adams was indicted on federal charges alleging corruption dating back at least a decade. He has denied wrongdoing.
On Monday, President Donald Trump's Justice Department directed prosecutors in the corruption case to drop the charges against Adams, according to multiple reports.
"As I said from the outset, I never broke the law and I never would," Adams said in the address. "So, I thank the Justice Department for its honesty. Now, we can put this cruel episode behind us and focus entirely on the future of our city."
The federal court docket had not been updated to reflect the change by the time Adams spoke. A spokesperson for the U.S. attorney's office, Nicholas Biase, declined to comment.
Here is what to know about the mayor of the nation's largest city as the situation develops:
Who is Eric Adams?
Eric Adams is the mayor of New York City, which includes five boroughs: Manhattan, Queens, Brooklyn, The Bronx and Staten Island.
Adams has been in NYC's public eye for decades, formerly serving as an NYPD Captain, a state senator and Brooklyn borough president. He was elected as mayor in 2021.
The next mayoral election is slated for later this year.
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Why was Eric Adams indicted?
Adams was indicted on five counts of corruption charges for alleged activity involving foreign nationals starting as Brooklyn Borough President in 2014.
"Thereafter, for nearly a decade, Adams sought and accepted improper valuable benefits, such as luxury international travel, including from wealthy foreign businesspeople and at least one Turkish government official seeking to gain influence over him," the indictment reads.
Here is the breakdown of the charges Adams faces:
- Count 1: Conspiracy to commit wire fraud, federal program bribery, and to receive campaign contributions by foreign nationals
- Count 2: Wire fraud
- Counts 3 and 4: Solicitation of a contribution by a foreign national
- Count 5: Bribery
Adams pleaded not guilty to the charges.
Why is Donald Trump's DOJ moving to drop the charges against Adams?
In a memo reviewed by Reuters, Acting Deputy Attorney General Emil Bove told the U.S. Attorney's office in Manhattan the indictment improperly interfered with Adams' re-election campaign. The memo directed the prosecutors to dismiss the case promptly, but Adams must sign an agreement that charges could be brought in the future.
Court records as of Tuesday morning show no indication the prosecutors have filed to drop the case.
Adams leads an overwhelmingly Democratic city and once aligned himself with former President Joe Biden. But Adams became critical of Biden when the city received a wave of migrants, and he has suggested his indictment is retribution for falling out with the Biden administration.
Trump, who has argued criminal charges against him were politicized, has appeared to have grown sympathetic towards Adams. Trump previously said he would consider pardoning the mayor.
This story has been updated with additional information.
Contributing: Ben Adler, Bart Jansen Paste BN; Reuters
Kinsey Crowley is a trending news reporter at Paste BN. Reach her at kcrowley@gannett.com, and follow her on X and TikTok @kinseycrowley.