FBI agents raided the New York City Mayor’s mansion on Thursday morning, early in the morning before the corruption charges against Mayor Eric Adams became public.
Federal prosecutors say he illegally received foreign campaign and corporate donations for a decade to gain influence. Adams responded to the video’s statement by saying that any charges against him would be “absolutely false, based on lies,” and insisted that his criticism of the Biden administration’s dangerous border policies prompted him to seek revenge.
“The federal government has done nothing as their broken immigration policies have filled our asylum system without relief,” he said. “I put the people of New York before party and politics.”
MAYOR OF THE CITY OF NEW YORK ERIC ADAMS IS IDENTIFIED
New York City Mayor Eric Adams attends a press conference on gun violence at the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner on June 26, 2023 in New York City. Mayor Adams was joined by First Deputy Commissioner Edward A. Caban and Chief Medical Examiner Jason Graham as they announced OCMEs DNA Gun Crimes Unit, the first in the nation, to become the fastest growing crime lab in major cities to investigate and analyze gun crimes. from 60 days to 30 or less. (Michael M. Santiago/Getty Images)
Sources said the agents seized the mayor’s phone while they were doing morning work, although it was not clear if Adams was at Gracie Mansion when he arrived.
They did not arrest Adams, according to his attorney, Alex Spiro.
The alleged fraud also siphoned off large amounts of public funding for the mayor’s campaign under a scheme that combined small-dollar donations with matching grants of up to $2,000 supported by taxpayers, according to the lawsuit. According to court documents, a donation of just $250 from an individual can send a candidate up to $2,000 in “matching money” from taxpayers. It happened so often that Adams reportedly earned $10 million from the program.
In addition to campaign contributions, Adams allegedly received other benefits such as free flights on Turkish Airlines to destinations in Europe and Asia, free hotel stays and free high-priced meals. In one incident, he reportedly inquired about flying to Chile’s Easter Island on a Turkish airline – but was unable to because it had no route connecting New York to the South American country.
US Attorney for the Southern District of New York, Damian Williams, speaks to reporters. (US Attorney for the Southern District of New York)
In one case, he is accused of creating a trail of forged documents to make it look like things have been paid for, and he is accused of deleting text messages to and from colleagues regarding this alleged scam.
Speaking to reporters Thursday, Damian Williams, the U.S. attorney for the Southern District of New York, called the bogus paper trail “just a cover-up.”
READ THE LAW:
“Government officials showed up this morning at Gracie Mansion in an attempt to put up a show (again) and take Mayor Adams’ phone (again),” Adams’ attorney told the Associated Press. “They sent a dozen agents to pick up the phone when we would have gladly installed it.”
But court documents allege a long history of public corruption. Beginning in 2016, Adams allegedly began accepting luxury transportation privately, according to the lawsuit.
ADAMS’ OFFICE LOOKS AT FBI EMPLOYEE WHO MAY HAVE ‘IMPERATIVELY LEAKED DETAILS’ OF SERVICE
In a series of free or “deeply discounted” overseas trips, Adams visited India, France, Turkey, Sri Lanka, Nepal and China, according to the filing. In total, he and his team reportedly paid about $2,300 for the flights that should have cost $66,000. Sometimes it is alleged that he would fly for hours to transfer to Istanbul and save money when he could fly somewhere direct in less time.
Federal prosecutors said he was given free yacht rides, chauffeured luxury cars and free stays at hotels such as the Four Seasons and St. Regis.
He then illegally failed to disclose travel and benefits on annual disclosure forms, according to prosecutors.
WATCH: NYC Mayor Adams calls pending lawsuits ‘absolutely false’
At one point, an Adams employee allegedly balked at the Turkish nation’s attempt to offer donations with an American-honored Turkish lawn offering.
“I don’t think he would be involved in games like this,” the employee said, according to court documents. “They might cause a big stink later…but I’ll ask anyway.”
The employee later discussed the use of the $100,000 donation, according to the lawsuit.
David Gelman, a New Jersey-based defense attorney who has served as a legal adviser to the Trump campaign, said the feds are likely to issue a warrant to take data from the mayor’s devices.
But he also questioned the case against Adams.
An NYPD officer stands outside Gracie Mansion, the official residence of New York City Mayor Eric Adams, Thursday, Sept. 26, 2024, in New York. (AP Photo/Yuki Iwamura)
“The question is, is there politics?” he said. “It’s possible. The DOJ has shown over the last 3.5 years that they are armed.”
Adams denounced what he described as a pressure campaign designed to make him look guilty and undermine his credibility.
WATCH: Federal agents enter Gracie Mansion following the impeachment of Mayor Eric Adams
FBI RAIDS HOME OF NYC MAYOR ERIC ADAMS, BRIANNA SUGGS’S BIG MONEY, SOURCE SAYS
Members of the media gather outside Gracie Mansion, the official residence of New York City Mayor Eric Adams, on Thursday, Sept. 26, 2024, New York. (AP Photo/Yuki Iwamura)
“Just this past week, they searched the house of our new police commissioner looking for documents from the past 20 years, one week after he took office,” he said. “Enough, I will fight against this injustice with all my strength and spirit.”
He maintains his innocence and has opposed calls for him to step down.
“Now if I am indicted, many may say that I should resign because I cannot manage the city while I am fighting the case,” he said. “I also understand how the people of New York will worry every day that I can’t do my job in the face of a lawsuit. But I’ve been dealing with this lie for a month now, since I started speaking up for all of you and their investigation began, yet the city has continued to improve, make no mistake, you elected me to lead this city, and I will lead it.
Details of the case are expected to be released to the public later Thursday morning.
“We have no information about the charges or the charges against them, but Adams and his legal team are well aware that the charges are going down,” said Gelman. “Nobody knows if they are cooperating but if the Fed has someone in its crosshairs, it doesn’t miss a beat.”
CLICK HERE FOR THE FOX NEWS PROGRAM
Federal agents have conducted a series of raids targeting Adams in recent weeks, including the new police commissioner, the commissioner he replaced, and other top aides in the mayor’s office and his campaign.
The FBI was reportedly looking into whether Adams’ 2021 mayoral campaign colluded with the Turkish government and other entities to raise money. Other New York officials have also been investigated for possible ties to China.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
Source link
