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Behind the Glass: How a Turkish Skyscraper in NYC Became the Key to Mayor Eric Adams’ Indictment
Edited by: TJVNews.com
In a stunning turn of events, a five-count indictment unsealed by Manhattan prosecutors on Thursday has revealed new allegations surrounding embattled New York City Mayor Eric Adams and his relationship with Turkish officials, including President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan. The New York Post reported that according to the indictment, the luxurious perks allegedly funneled to Adams by Turkish officials, including first-class travel and other lavish gifts, were part of a broader scheme that involved the fast-tracking of a major construction project in New York City—Turkey’s new consulate, known as the Turkish House or Turkevi Center.
The indictment against Mayor Adams alleges that, starting in 2021, he became deeply involved in facilitating the opening of Turkey’s new consulate building in New York City in exchange for luxurious perks provided by Turkish officials. According to the information provided in The Post report, The Turkish House, a gleaming 36-story glass-and-steel skyscraper located across from the United Nations, was a pet project of President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and was intended to serve as a diplomatic showplace for Turkey on the world stage.
Prosecutors claim that Turkish officials funneled thousands of dollars worth of luxury travel and other lavish perks to Adams, who was then the Brooklyn Borough President, to secure his help in fast-tracking the consulate project. As per the information contained in The Post report, these benefits, which allegedly included first-class flights and other travel-related bribes, were given in exchange for Adams using his influence over New York City agencies, including the Fire Department of New York (FDNY).
👇🏾👇🏾👇🏾The Turkish government (Corendon 🧐) has been doing the same thing in the Caribbean 🤔
The Turkish Government and Real Estate Giants are tightly knit with the Turkish Mafia aka “The Grey Wolves” … https://t.co/tzdaXGlL3F
— 👑Count Doekoe of House Surrèale sur Monaé (@xxx_diamante) September 27, 2024
According to the indictment, Adams pressured FDNY officials to approve the skyscraper’s opening without a necessary fire inspection, even though the building would have failed the inspection at the time, The Post report said. The FDNY official responsible for assessing the building’s fire safety was reportedly threatened with the loss of his job if he did not comply with the mayor’s orders. Due to this pressure, the Turkish House was opened as scheduled, allowing it to host a high-profile visit from Erdoğan.
The Turkish House, also known as Turkevi Center, was envisioned as a landmark building that would represent Turkey’s rising international stature. Located in the heart of Manhattan, tower stands as a testament to Turkey’s ambitions on the global stage.
In 2017, at the groundbreaking ceremony for the building, President Erdoğan delivered a speech emphasizing the symbolic importance of the Turkish House. Standing alongside his wife and Turkey’s foreign minister, Erdoğan called the skyscraper a “space worthy of our country’s glory” and a representation of Turkey’s growing international reputation, as was indicated in The Post report. The building was to serve as a consulate and diplomatic hub, highlighting Turkey’s influence in global affairs.
Eric Adams assisted in regulations with the “Turkish House” in exchange for free or discounted travel pic.twitter.com/lCctBfy9jt
— Just one person (@Newyorkist) September 27, 2024
The tower’s strategic location, its sleek, modern design, and its height made it a significant project for Erdoğan’s administration, which sought to showcase Turkey’s progress and development. However, The Post report indicated that the indictment now alleges that behind this ambitious project were shady dealings, as Turkish officials sought to bypass safety protocols and expedite the building’s opening through bribes and political pressure on Mayor Adams.
At the heart of the indictment are the serious fire safety concerns that surrounded the Turkish House at the time of its completion. According to prosecutors, by September 2021, the skyscraper would have failed an FDNY fire safety inspection, the report in The Post said. Despite this, Turkish officials were determined to open the building in time for a visit from President Erdoğan, and they allegedly sought Adams’ help to ensure that happened.
The indictment claims that a Turkish official explicitly told Adams that it was “his turn” to repay the favors he had received by pressuring the FDNY to approve the building without conducting a proper inspection. The Post report explained that in exchange for the luxury travel and other perks Adams had received, he allegedly exerted influence over the FDNY, ensuring that the necessary approvals were granted despite the fire safety risks.
Inside the Turkish tower in NYC at the center of Mayor Eric Adams’ indictment: According to the indictment unsealed by Manhattan prosecutors, Turkey and its president Recep Tayyip Erdoğan scored a 36-story tower called the Turkish House — a consular… https://t.co/eYM5YzXtGh pic.twitter.com/5g5RMNkmvQ
— ZBreakingNewz (@ZBreakingNewz) September 26, 2024
One FDNY official, responsible for evaluating the skyscraper’s fire safety, was allegedly told that he would lose his job if he did not comply with Adams’ demands. As a result, the building was opened in time for Erdoğan’s visit, and the fire safety inspection was reportedly circumvented, raising significant concerns about the safety of the consular staff and visitors.
For President Erdoğan and his administration, the completion and opening of the Turkish House represented a major diplomatic victory. Noted in The Post report was that the building’s location near the United Nations headquarters allows Turkey to maintain a visible and prominent presence on the world stage, directly across from the seat of global diplomacy. The skyscraper serves as a consular facility, providing services to Turkish nationals and foreign visitors, but it is also a symbol of Turkey’s international aspirations.
A criminal case was filed against NY Mayor Eric Adams for granting a license to the Turkish House w/o fulfilling the fire dept inspection procedure so that it could be opened on the date President Erdoğan came & for repeatedly receiving free tickets from @TurkishAirlines…
— Sinan Ciddi (@SinanCiddi) September 26, 2024
By securing the fast-tracking of the Turkish House’s opening, Erdoğan’s government was able to enhance its diplomatic footprint in New York City. As detailed in The Post report, the building, with its modern design and towering presence, reflects Erdoğan’s desire to project an image of a rising Turkey—a country that is not only economically and politically significant but also capable of wielding influence in major international cities like New York.
The indictment, however, suggests that this diplomatic achievement came at a cost. The alleged use of bribes to bypass New York City regulations, particularly fire safety standards, raises serious ethical and legal questions, The Post report suggested. If proven true, the allegations would suggest that Turkey’s pursuit of prestige and influence in the heart of Manhattan was facilitated by corruption and compromised safety.
Many details in the Adams indictment about the pressure campaign to get the FDNY to inspect and approve the “Turkish House” in Brooklyn just days before the 20th anniversary of 9/11 in 2021.
An FDNY inspector wrote the building had “major issues.” pic.twitter.com/Bp4CySXgoi
— Duncan Freeman (@deefreemank) September 26, 2024
(Note the Twittwr/X reporter meant NYC, The Turkish House is not in Brooklyn)
Although not reIated to the Adams indictment, in December 2022, The Jewish Voice reported that a Chanukah party took place at New York’s Turkish House (Türkevi). According to published reports, the centuries-old culture of Sephardic Jews was honored at ceremonies hosted by the Turkish Embassy in Washington, D.C. and the Turkish Consulate in New York.
Many believed at the time that this represented a breakthrough in terms of establishing closer ties between the international Jewish community and Turkey.
Chanukah is the “festival of lights” and as such a 19th-century menorah which now belongs to Jewish collector Thomas Gelb was lit at the ceremony marking the 4th night of the 8 day holiday. The 150-year-old menorah was recovered from a synagogue in Prague burnt down by the Nazis during World War II.
Addressing the joyous gathering was Turkish Ambassador to the U.S. Hasan Murat Mercan. He told the attendees that the Turkish House is home to all Turkish Jews, their friends and relatives.
”The Jewish community is an inseparable part of our land, our community, whether they live in Türkiye or New York,” he said, as was reported by the Daily Sabah. ”Türkiye has been home to different religions, different cultures, and all of them helped with the cornerstone of our collective history … Our diversity reflects our strength.”
Adams appealed to former FDNY Commissioner Daniel Nigro directly and then the Chief of Fire Prevention – under the threat of losing his job – wrote an unprecedented “conditional letter of no objection” allowing the inspection process to move forward. pic.twitter.com/9ZX3knaTRg
— Duncan Freeman (@deefreemank) September 26, 2024
Turkish Consul General in New York Reyhan Özgur said that the gathering is another testament to the growing friendship between the Turkish and Jewish peoples.
”The doors of Turkish House are always wide open to our Jewish friends. Today’s Hanukkah celebration is historic in the sense that for the first time, menorah candles will be lit in Turkish House, ” he said.
Ozgur noted that Sephardic Jews have significantly enriched the culture and economy of Turkish society by becoming an integral part of the country.
Asaf Zamir, who was then the consul general of Israel in New York, thanked Türkiye for celebrating Hanukkah at the Turkish House and for its friendship. ”The fact that you decided to have this event this evening is extremely important to us,” he said.
The Chief Rabbi of Türkiye, Isak Haleva, also attended the ceremony from Istanbul via videoconference to wish Jews in the United States a happy Chanukah.
