Federal prosecutors have indicted New York city Mayor Eric Adams on charges that he took bribes, illegal campaign contributions and gifts from Turkish businessmen and officials.
“Mayor Adams engaged in a long-running conspiracy in which he solicited and knowingly accepted illegal campaign contributions from foreign donors,” U.S. Attorney Damian Williams said during a news conference Thursday.
“As we allege, Mayor Adams took these donations, even though he knew they were illegal, and even though he knew these contributions were attempts by a Turkish governmental official and Turkish businessmen to buy influence with him.”
Prosecutors also allege that Adams took over $100,000 in gifts which he did not report as the law requires. He also made efforts to cover-up the fact that he had received gifts.
Adams held his own news conference where he denied wrong-doing and claimed he was being persecuted.
“We expected this, this is not surprising to us at all,” Adams said.
Adams said he would continue to serve as New York’s mayor.
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