New York City Mayor Eric Adams has pleaded not guilty to five felony charges, including bribery, fraud and solicitation of illegal foreign campaign contributions.
Dressed in a blue suit, Adams arrived at a federal court in New York for a brief hearing to enter his plea.
“I’m not guilty, your honor,” he told Magistrate Judge Katharine Parker straight, according to court reporters.
The 64-year-old was indicted earlier this week for allegedly accepting illegal campaign funds and thousands of dollars in luxury travel benefits from Turkish businessmen and an official to gain influence as mayor.
Adams denied that he made a mistake and said that the public should withhold judgment until he can answer for himself.
“I follow the rules, I follow the law of the state, I don’t do anything that will take part in illegal campaigning,” he said in a press conference.
Adams gave reporters a thumbs up as he entered the courtroom Friday morning.
He was released on bail. Judge Parker ruled that Adams cannot talk to witnesses about the facts of the case, although he can talk to them about business or private matters, according to American media.
His attorney, Alex Spiro, told reporters outside court that he will file a motion to have the case dismissed next week.
“All the evidence is one worker,” he told reporters. “What you didn’t hear was that that employee lied, and the government owns that lie.”
If convicted, Adams could face up to 45 years in prison.
He dismissed growing calls from members of his party to resign.
The former police officer was elected to lead the US’s most populous city three years ago on a promise to get tough on crime.
Prosecutors say Adams’ misconduct began in 2014, when he was Brooklyn Borough president, and continued in his mayoral campaign while in office.
In the 57-page indictment, Adams is accused of pressuring New York City Fire Department officials to approve the Turkish embassy building without security inspections in exchange for benefits such as discounted flights, luxury hotels and meals.
Prosecutors say he also misappropriated $10m (£7.4m) of public money.
He is accused of using straw donors – a system used by an individual or organization to evade campaign finance limits – to illegally take foreign donations and match them with city funds that should have been for small dollar donations from residents.
The mayor is due back in court on October 2.
Adams has insisted he will remain in office while the case continues, despite calls from state and federal Democrats for him to resign.
New York Governor Kathy Hochul has the power to remove Adams. He said he needed time to review the indictment to “see what is included in this”.
Adams can also be removed from the mayor’s office by a committee called the “inability committee” which may include several city officials who oppose him.
The criticism of Adams comes as the federal government has launched a series of investigations into his administration, which has seen several people resign in recent weeks.
The police commissioner, the health commissioner and the mayor’s senior adviser have all resigned as has the school chancellor, David Banks, whose phone has been intercepted.
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