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Edited by: TJVNews.com
New York City Mayor Eric Adams has been indicted by a grand jury in connection to a federal probe, according to sources who informed The New York Post. This historic indictment marks the first time a sitting mayor of New York City has faced criminal charges. While the specifics of the case remain under wraps until the indictment is unsealed, Adams is reportedly defiant, claiming that the federal government is persecuting him for his outspoken stance on the city’s migrant crisis.
The indictment is expected to be made public by U.S. Attorney Damian Williams later this week, according to The New York Post. Sources familiar with the case told The New York Post that the indictment, which is expected to be unsealed later this week, centers around allegations of illegal campaign contributions from foreign entities, including the Turkish government, during Adams’ 2021 mayoral campaign.
“I always knew that if I stood my ground for New Yorkers that I would be a target — and a target I became,” Adams said in a statement to The New York Post. The mayor, who has been vocal about the federal government’s inaction on the migrant crisis overwhelming New York’s shelter system, suggested that his outspokenness has made him a political target.
Despite the weight of the charges, Adams has made it clear he has no intention of stepping down as mayor. In a video statement released shortly after news of the indictment broke, Adams reinforced his commitment to his position and his determination to clear his name. “I will request an immediate trial so that New Yorkers can hear the truth,” Adams said in the video, as reported by The New York Post. He went on to emphasize his life-long fight against injustice, highlighting his roots and his career-long advocacy for the people of New York.
“New Yorkers know my story. They know where I come from. I have been fighting injustice my entire life,” Adams said in his video message, reiterating his belief that the charges are politically motivated. He further criticized the federal government’s handling of the immigration crisis, which has inundated New York City’s shelter system. The Post report observed that Adams positioned himself as a champion of New Yorkers who have been let down by federal policies, stating, “Despite our police, when the federal government did nothing as its broken immigration policies overloaded our shelter system with no relief, I put the people of New York before party and politics.”
The details of the indictment are expected to become clearer when the charges are unsealed on Thursday. According to The New York Post, the case is being prosecuted by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of New York, led by Damian Williams. A representative for the U.S. Attorney’s Office declined to comment on the case, leaving many questions unanswered until the indictment is made public.
However, sources close to the case have indicated that the mayor’s indictment is part of a broader investigation, with at least two of his close associates also expected to be named. Adams’ top campaign fundraiser, Brianna Suggs, and his Director of Asian Affairs, Winnie Greco, are believed to be co-defendants in the case, according to The New York Post.
While the exact nature of the charges remains to be seen, Adams has made it clear that he will not back down. “If I am charged, I am innocent, and I will fight this with every ounce of my strength and spirit,” he said in his statement to The New York Post. The mayor’s defiance sets the stage for a potentially protracted legal battle, one that could dominate the headlines in the coming months and test the resilience of his administration.
As the city awaits the unsealing of the indictment, the political fallout from the charges could be significant. Adams, who has been a prominent figure in both local and national politics, has built his reputation as a reformer and advocate for public safety and social justice. His handling of New York City’s crime rates and the migrant crisis has been both praised and criticized, and the indictment could add a new dimension to public opinion of his leadership.
“I always knew that if I stood my ground for New Yorkers that I would be a target — and a target I became,” Adams also aid in a statement to The New York Post. The mayor has positioned himself as a vocal opponent of the Biden administration’s immigration policies, particularly as New York has been inundated with over 250,000 migrants since 2022, leaving the city’s shelter system overwhelmed. Adams has repeatedly criticized the federal government for abandoning New York in its hour of need, a stance that he suggests has led to this indictment.
The probe reportedly intensified following a series of high-profile raids on September 4, which targeted several officials close to the mayor. The New York Post reported that these raids sent City Hall into a state of chaos, with rumors swirling about the scope of the investigation and the possibility of criminal charges against top city officials. Federal prosecutors are said to have demanded access to communications between Adams’ administration and multiple foreign governments, including Turkey, Israel, China, Qatar, South Korea, and Uzbekistan, as part of their investigation.
In July, Adams’ 2021 campaign, City Hall, and his election committee were served with grand jury subpoenas, according to The New York Post. The subpoenas sought extensive records, including text messages, documents, and communications between city officials and foreign governments. The investigation has raised concerns about foreign influence in city politics and whether Adams’ administration may have engaged in quid-pro-quo dealings with foreign entities.
The indictment has rattled City Hall, with insiders describing an atmosphere of panic as rumors spread about the potential charges. According to The New York Post, word began circulating on Wednesday morning that a senior official within Adams’ administration was set to be indicted, heightening the tension. While the identities of those facing charges alongside Adams remain unconfirmed, at least three other individuals are expected to be implicated, though The New York Post could not immediately verify their names.
In anticipation of the indictment’s unsealing, security around Gracie Mansion, the mayor’s official residence, has been tightened. The New York Post reported that barriers were erected outside the property, and law enforcement officials pushed reporters away from the mayor’s home. The heightened security measures underscore the gravity of the situation, as the city braces for what could be a protracted legal battle.
The accusations against Adams have brought renewed scrutiny to the role of foreign governments in U.S. elections, particularly at the local level. As The New York Post reported, federal investigators have been examining ties between Adams’ campaign and several foreign countries, with a particular focus on contributions linked to Turkish interests. In addition to Turkey, investigators have also requested records concerning interactions with officials from Israel, China, Qatar, South Korea, and Uzbekistan, signaling the wide-ranging nature of the probe.
These revelations have raised questions about the potential influence of foreign governments on New York City politics and whether any favors were granted in exchange for financial support. The investigation into Adams’ campaign donations from Turkey, for example, is reportedly connected to the approval process for the Turkish consulate in Manhattan, according to The New York Post. If proven, these allegations could lead to significant legal and political consequences for the mayor.
“That fight has continued as your mayor. Despite our police, when the federal government did nothing as its broken immigration policies overloaded our shelter system with no relief, I put the people of New York before party and politics,” Adams said in a video statement, according to The New York Post. He has consistently positioned himself as a champion of New Yorkers, arguing that the federal government has left the city to fend for itself in dealing with the humanitarian crisis.
Eric Adam is under the siege @NYCMayor https://t.co/XzLZqgAO66
— The Jewish Voice (@TJVNEWS) September 26, 2024
In early 2023, Adams had publicly criticized the national government, saying, “The national government has turned its back on New York City,” according to The New York Post. His frustrations stem from the city’s migrant crisis, which has overwhelmed New York’s shelters and public services. With more than 250,000 migrants arriving since 2022, Adams has repeatedly called for more federal support, warning that the crisis is expected to cost the city up to $12 billion by 2026. He has called for the White House to appoint someone to implement a “decompression strategy” at the border, which would slow the flow of migrants into the city and provide a more structured response.
According to The New York Post, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of New York began investigating the matter last year, focusing on possible kickbacks involving straw donors. In November 2023, the probe escalated when federal agents raided the Brooklyn home of Brianna Suggs, one of Adams’ top fundraisers. The raid was reportedly aimed at uncovering evidence of improper donations from the Turkish government, facilitated through the Williamsburg-based KSK Construction Group.
The raid on Suggs’ home sent shockwaves through Adams’ administration, prompting the mayor to abruptly cut short a much-publicized White House meeting on the migrant crisis. As The New York Post reported, the mayor’s sudden departure from Washington was seen as a sign of the severity of the investigation. Subsequent reports indicated that federal investigators were looking into whether donations to Adams’ campaign were part of a broader scheme involving foreign influence and kickbacks.
In the weeks following the raid on Suggs, federal agents executed additional raids, targeting City Hall staffer Rana Abbasova and Cenk Ocal, a former Turkish Airlines executive who had worked on Adams’ transition team, The Post report said. The scope of the investigation appeared to widen as the FBI looked for further evidence linking Adams’ campaign to illegal foreign contributions.
In a dramatic turn of events, the FBI seized Mayor Adams’ personal phones and iPad during a raid on the streets of Manhattan. According to The New York Post, the mayor was approached by federal agents, who took possession of his devices as part of their ongoing investigation. This marked a significant escalation in the probe, indicating that investigators are closely examining Adams’ personal communications and potential involvement in the alleged scheme.
Adams has not been formally charged, but the seizure of his electronic devices adds to the mounting pressure on his administration. The investigation has already implicated several individuals in Adams’ inner circle, including Winnie Greco, a key aide whose Bronx home was raided by federal agents in February 2024. The New York Post noted that while it was unclear at the time whether Greco’s raid was directly tied to the Turkey probe, it raised additional concerns about potential corruption within Adams’ team.
While Adams faces increasing scrutiny over his mayoral campaign finances, he continues to place much of the blame for the city’s challenges on the federal government. In December 2023, Adams voiced his frustration during an interview with Fox 5, saying, “I am lost. I am confused on this topic on why we still, almost 20 months later, we’re still talking about this issue and it has inundated the city,” as reported by The New York Post. He has repeatedly urged the Biden administration to provide more funding and resources to New York City, which has struggled to accommodate the influx of migrants.
Adams has been particularly critical of what he describes as Washington’s failure to implement a comprehensive immigration plan, which has left cities like New York to deal with the consequences. He has argued that the federal government’s immigration policies are responsible for overwhelming the city’s infrastructure and has urged President Biden to take more aggressive action.
Despite the migrant crisis dominating much of his public commentary, the corruption probe now threatens to overshadow Adams’ policy agenda. As the investigation unfolds, Adams will likely face increased scrutiny from both federal authorities and the media. According to The New York Post, the federal government has also subpoenaed extensive communications between the mayor’s office and several foreign governments, including Turkey, Israel, China, Qatar, South Korea, and Uzbekistan, suggesting that investigators are leaving no stone unturned in their search for potential wrongdoing.
