57 page indictment unsealed Thursday, hits Eric Adams with bribery conspiracy, fraud and soliciting illegal foreign campaign donations

New York City mayor was indicted by a grand jury on federal criminal charges, after weeks of searches, subpoenas and resignations of city department heads and top aides

Latest development comes nearly a year after FBI agents seized electronic devices from mayor and top city officials in multiple federal inquiries involving his administration

Multiple separate inquiries involve senior Adams aides, relatives of those aides, campaign fundraising and possible influence peddling at the police and fire departments

Mayor Adams in a speech recorded at his official residence, has said he would remain in office, describing any charges he may face as “entirely false, based on lies”

New York City Mayor Eric Adams [photo], allegedly has been indicted by a grand jury on federal criminal charges, after weeks of searches, subpoenas and resignations of top officials

New York City Mayor Eric Adams, has been indicted by a grand jury on federal criminal charges, a extraordinary culmination to weeks of searches, subpoenas and resignations of top officials. A flurry of developments that has thrust the city’s government into crisis.
The 57 page indictment against the Democrat, unsealed Thursday, charges Adams with bribery conspiracy, fraud and soliciting illegal foreign campaign donations.
Leading to the indictment, Mayor Adams in a speech recorded at his official residence, has said he would remain in office, describing any charges he may face as “entirely false, based on lies.”
“I always knew that if I stood my ground for all of you, that I would be a target – and a target I became,” Adams said.
“I will fight these injustices with every ounce of my strength and my spirit.”
It was not immediately clear what laws Adams is accused of breaking or when he might have to appear in court.
Federal investigators had seized Adams’ electronic devices nearly a year ago as part of an investigation focused, at least partly, on campaign contributions and Adams’ interactions with the Turkish government. Because the charges were sealed, it was unknown whether they dealt with those same matters.

In a videotaped statement Mayor Adams maintained his innocence: “I always knew that if I stood my ground for all of you, that I would be a target — and a target I became,” Adams said. “I will fight these injustices with every ounce of my strength and my spirit.”

Nearly a year after FBI agents seized his phones, New York City Mayor Eric Adams faces an expanding constellation of federal inquiries involving his administration.
In recent weeks, the investigations have produced a wave of subpoenas, raids and anxiety for the administration of the first-term Democrat as federal investigators have visited more than a dozen members of his administration, taking devices from the police commissioner – who then resigned, the head of the public schools and other trusted confidantes both in and out of City Hall. At least one high-ranking mayoral aide received a subpoena to testify before a grand jury.
Federal prosecutors have declined to discuss the investigations but people familiar with elements of the cases have described multiple, separate inquiries involving senior Adams aides, relatives of those aides, campaign fundraising and possible influence peddling at the police and fire departments.
Eric Adams, a former police captain won election nearly three years ago to become the city’s second Black mayor on a campaign that stressed his working class roots and commitment to public safety. However, as Adams has made reducing crime a cornerstone of his administration, he has faced growing legal peril, with multiple federal investigations honing in on his top aides and his own campaign.

Former NYPD captain Eric Adams is the first mayor in New York City history to be indicted while in office. If he were to resign, he would be replaced by the city’s public advocate, Jumaane Williams on an interim basis pending a special election

In the last two weeks alone, the leaders he appointed to oversee the country’s largest police force and largest schools system have announced their resignations.
Adams is the first mayor in New York City history to be indicted while in office. If he were to resign, he would be replaced by the city’s public advocate, Jumaane Williams, who would then schedule a special election.
Gov. Kathy Hochul has the power to remove Adams from office. Hochul spokesperson, Avi Small, issued a statement late Wednesday that said “Governor Hochul is aware of these concerning news reports and is monitoring the situation. It would be premature to comment further until the matter is confirmed by law enforcement.”

Fed probe of the Adams administration started on Nov. 2, 2023, with a raid on the Brooklyn home of Brianna Suggs, [photo], campaign fundraiser for his 2021 mayoral campaign, as part of investigation into the mayor’s campaign finances

The federal investigations into Adams administration gained public attention early November, after FBI agents conducted an early morning raid on the Brooklyn home of his chief fundraiser, Brianna Suggs.
Feds according to the search warrant, were examining whether the Adams campaign conspired with the Turkish government to receive donations from foreign sources, funneled through straw donors.
At the time, Adams insisted he followed the law and said he would be “shocked” if anyone on his campaign had acted illegally.
Days later, FBI agents seized the mayor’s electronic devices, [phones and iPad], as he was leaving an event in Manhattan.
Expanding the seizures, on September 4, feds confiscated electronic devices from the city’s police commissioner, schools chancellor, deputy mayor of public safety, first deputy mayor and other trusted confidantes of Adams both in and out of City Hall.
The investigations it was revealed comprised of multiple, separate inquiries involving senior Adams aides, relatives of those aides, campaign fundraising and possible influence peddling of the police and fire departments.

A week into the searches, the New York City police commissioner, Edward Caban, [photo], head of the nation’s largest police force, announced his resignation.

A week after the searches, the city’s police commissioner, Edward Caban, announced his resignation.
A fortnight later, Schools Chancellor David Banks announced he would retire at the end of the year, but mayor Adams insisted he would keep doing the city’s business and allow the investigations to run their course.
Over the summer, federal prosecutors subpoenaed Adams, his campaign machinery and City Hall, requesting information about the mayor’s schedule, his overseas travel and potential connections to the Turkish government.

A couple of weeks later, another domino fell as Schools Chancellor David Banks, [photo], announced he would retire at the end of the year.

Adams spent 22 years in New York City’s police department before going into politics, first as a state senator and then as Brooklyn borough president. He was elected as mayor in November 2021 — a victory he has repeatedly said was ordained by God.
But after more than two years in office, Adams’ popularity has declined. While the city has seen an increase in jobs and a drop in certain categories of crime, the administration has struggled with an influx of tens of thousands of international migrants who overwhelmed the city’s homeless shelters.
There has also been a steady drip of accusations and a swirl of suspicion around people close to the mayor.
In addition to the sprawling inquiries launched by Manhattan prosecutors, federal prosecutors in Brooklyn are investigating another one of Adams’ close aides, Winnie Greco, who had raised thousands of dollars in campaign donations from the city’s Chinese American communities and later became his director of Asian affairs. Greco hasn’t commented publicly on the FBI searches of her properties and continues to work for the city.
When agents seized electronic devices from Caban, the former police commissioner, in early September, they also visited his twin brother, James Caban, a former police officer who runs a nightlife consulting business.
Agents also took devices from the schools chancellor; his brother Philip Banks, formerly a top NYPD chief who is now deputy mayor for public safety; their brother Terence Banks, who ran a consulting firm that promised to connect businesses to government stakeholders; and from First Deputy Mayor Sheena Wright, who is David Banks’ domestic partner.
All denied any wrongdoing.

Feds also raided the home of newly named interim police commissioner for New York, Thomas Donlon, [photo], and seized materials unrelated to his police work

While those investigations churned, federal authorities also searched the homes of newly named interim police commissioner, Thomas Donlon, and seized materials unrelated to his police work.
Donlon confirmed the search and said it involved materials that had been in his possession for 20 years.
In his speech Wednesday night, Adams appeared to cite that search as proof of overreach by federal investigators.
In the tide of federal indictment, several voices from both sides have called on Adams to resign.
Hours before the charges were announced, U.S. Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez became the first nationally prominent Democrat to call for his re