New York City Mayor Eric Adams entered a not guilty plea on Friday to federal charges accusing him of accepting illegal foreign donations and luxurious trips in exchange for political favors.
Appearing at a Manhattan courthouse, Adams is facing five counts, including wire fraud, bribery, and accepting foreign campaign contributions, which could carry up to 20 years in prison if convicted.
Federal prosecutors allege that from his time as Brooklyn borough president through his tenure as mayor, Adams received lavish perks like international trips from Turkish businessmen and a government official. In return, he allegedly used his influence to help push through the opening of a Turkish consulate building, bypassing safety regulations.
Prosecutors also claim Adams accepted “straw donations” to his 2021 mayoral campaign, fraudulently securing over $10 million in public funds through New York City’s donation-matching program.
Despite mounting calls for his resignation, Adams has vowed to fight the charges, stating, “I will continue to do the job for 8.3 million New Yorkers that I was elected to do.”
His next court appearance is set for October 2.
