New York City Mayor Eric Adams has been formally charged with five counts of bribery, wire fraud and soliciting campaign contributions from foreign nationals, according to a 57-page document released by prosecutors Thursday morning (26).
He faces one count of bribery and conspiracy to commit wire fraud and two counts related to receiving campaign contributions from foreign nationals. He is also charged with wire fraud.
Earlier, the CNN had confirmed the accusation with sources close to the mayor.
“For nearly a decade, Adams sought and accepted valuable and improper benefits, including luxury international travel, including from wealthy foreign businesspeople and at least one Turkish government official who sought to gain influence over him,” the indictment says.
By “smuggling his contributions” to Adams’ campaign through foreign donors and actors, Adams “defeated federal laws designed to prevent foreign influence in U.S. elections.”
In 2018, when Adams announced his plans to run for mayor of New York, he allegedly accepted and sought illegal contributions for his upcoming mayoral campaign, the indictment says.
The companies also circumvented the city’s ban on corporate contributions by “channeling their donations through multiple employees,” according to the indictment.
U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York Damian Williams is expected to discuss the indictment at a news conference later Thursday.
The indictment follows a month-long federal investigation by the U.S. attorney’s office in Manhattan, which is reportedly scrutinizing his ties to Turkish businessmen and the campaign donations he received.
Adams has denied any wrongdoing and has frequently repeated that he told members of his campaign and administration to follow the law.
“I always knew that if I stood up for New Yorkers, I would be a target — and a target I have become. If I am charged, I am innocent and I will fight this with all my strength and spirit,” Adams said, responding to the news on Wednesday night (25).
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This content was originally published in MP accuses New York mayor of corruption, bribery and fraud on the CNN Brasil website.
Source: CNN Brasil
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