Mayor Eric Adams turned himself in to federal authorities on Friday before a scheduled appearance in Manhattan federal court, following his indictment on charges of a decade-long corruption scheme.
Adams, who made history as the first sitting mayor of New York City to face such charges, was set to appear in court at noon, accused of accepting bribes and unlawful campaign contributions from foreign nationals in exchange for political favors.
He is expected to enter a plea of not guilty.
The five-count indictment, unsealed on Thursday, outlines allegations that Adams accepted a variety of illicit gifts from Turkish officials and business figures — including $123,000 worth of complimentary hotel accommodations and deeply discounted flights.
Federal prosecutors also claim he fraudulently secured $10 million in public campaign funding.
In return, Adams allegedly pressured city officials to bypass fire inspections and fast-track approvals for the Turkish Consulate’s large-scale project in Manhattan, as stated in the indictment.
Adams’ surrender followed a request from his attorney, Alex Spiro, to delay the arraignment until at least Monday to limit the number of times the mayor would have to appear in court.
Facing charges of conspiracy, wire fraud, and bribery tied to activities during his tenure as Brooklyn borough president, Adams has maintained his innocence.
Speaking on Thursday, Adams affirmed his commitment to staying in office and fighting the accusations.
“From here, my attorneys will take care of the case so I can take care of the city,” he said during a press conference at Gracie Mansion. “It’s an unfortunate day. And it’s a painful day. But inside all of that is a day when we will finally reveal why, for 10 months, I’ve gone through this. And I look forward to defending myself.”
Earlier that day, Adams suggested he was being targeted by federal authorities because of his outspoken stance on New York City’s growing migrant crisis.
Meanwhile, Spiro defended Adams’ actions, asserting that it’s common for government officials to receive certain travel perks. He emphasized that the seat upgrades and other benefits Adams received were routinely extended to VIPs and members of Congress.
“That’s what airlines do,” Spiro remarked, adding that several of the charges involve trips Adams took years ago while serving as borough president.
Despite Adams’ and his legal team’s determination to contest the charges, calls for his resignation have surged since the grand jury indictment was made public.
If convicted on all five charges, Adams could face up to 45 years in prison.
