The latest in a terrible decade of Democratic optics for New York City, Mayor Eric Adams has been indicted on five federal counts of public corruption, including bribery and wire fraud; the former NYPD captain has pled not guilty and requested dismissal on a bribery charge. The Mayor’s attorney maintains that luxury travel and flight upgrades gifted by the Turkish government are not tantamount to bribes but merely typical perks offered to politicians. The total of said bribes is allegedly over $100,000. In exchange, Adams allegedly fast-tracked approvals for a Turkish consulate in New York City.
The indictment details 23 “overt acts,” including accepting opulent travel accommodations and illegal campaign donations from foreign nationals. One trip in 2017 alone was allegedly worth $41,000 and included round-trip business class airfare for three to Istanbul and a luxury suite at the city’s prestigious St Regis hotel. Quid Pro Quo was beyond a shadow of a doubt when, in 2021, a Turkish official told the Mayor it was “his turn to repay.”
Adams became the first sitting mayor of New York City to be indicted and will be the first to face federal charges.
The allegations extend back over a decade and suggest Adam’s malfeasance began while he acted as Brooklyn Borough President. Assistant U.S. Attorney Hagan Scotten states that more charges will likely be filed against Adams and that more people will be arrested in connection to the case. Several in the Mayor’s entourage have retired in the wake of the indictment, including the police commissioner and school chancellor, though neither has been implicated thus far. While not yet charged, their devices, alongside those of two deputy mayors, were seized in early September as part of the investigation.
All this, on the heels of the arrest of Governor Hochul’s aide for allegedly granting favors to the Chinese Communist government, does not suggest New York’s leadership is looking out for its locals. The city and state should consider electing individuals for whom the positions they will fill are not merely stepping stones to a national stage, as has always been clear of Adams and Hochul.
On a mayoral front, Adams’ predecessor, Bill DiBlasio, left office in disgrace, albeit less criminal than his replacement. Bill made every bumble, from severely alienating the NYPD to wasting three-quarters of a billion dollars on a failed school renewal program, to name just a few. One might remember DiBlasio was only able to take office once primary competitor Anthony Weiner overexposed himself with intimate photos. Upon his exit, instead of making a Congressional or Gubernatorial run, Bill just…. Ran. The people of New York City deserve something diametrically different from this decade.
According to all reports, Mayor Adams has no current plans to resign and is looking towards running for re-election next November. His representatives have requested a speedy trial date so as to dispose of the matter before the 2025 NYC mayoral primary.
Should Mayor Adams step down, given his recent indictment? Could these charges be politically motivated to induce a change of leadership?
Hilary Gunn is a Connecticut native with a degree in Criminal Justice from the George Washington University. She works for a nonprofit and has previously collaborated with the CT GOP as an activist, political campaign manager and field director, and social media organizer. She is currently serving in her fourth term of municipal office and has previously acted as a delegate on the Republican Town Committee.