New York City’s embattled and indicted mayor Eric Adams has arrived at a federal courthouse to be arraigned on charges that he accepted illegal campaign contributions and free overseas trips from people looking to buy his influence in city government.
Adams gave a thumbs-up but did not pause to speak to reporters as he headed into the Manhattan court, flanked by his own police security.
He was scheduled to appear before Magistrate Judge Katharine Parker.
An indictment unsealed on Thursday accused the Democrat of taking a variety of improper gifts from Turkish officials and businesspeople, including free hotel stays and deeply discounted airline tickets to destinations including France, China, Sri Lanka, India, Hungary, Ghana and Turkey.
In return, prosecutors said, Adams did favours for his patrons.
That included helping Turkey get fire department approvals to open a new diplomatic tower in Manhattan, despite concerns about its fire safety system, prosecutors said.
Adams says he is innocent.
His lawyer has said it was neither unusual nor improper for a government official to accept some travel perks.
The mayor has denied ever knowingly accepting an illegal campaign contribution and said any help he gave people navigating city bureaucracy was just part of doing his job.
Adams’ lawyer, Alex Spiro, had asked the court to delay the arraignment until at least Monday, mainly for the purpose of reducing the number of times the mayor would have to come to court.
A judge did not immediately respond to that request.
Adams, a Democrat, faces conspiracy, wire fraud and bribery charges in a five-count indictment.
US Attorney Damian Williams on Thursday said that several businesspeople and a Turkish diplomat had engaged in “a multi-year scheme to buy favour” from Adams.
In public remarks on Thursday, Adams asked New Yorkers to avoid making any judgments until they heard his defence.
Mr Spiro told reporters the travel perks and seat upgrades Adams accepted were commonly offered to VIPs and members of Congress.
“That’s what airlines do,” he said, noting that many of the charges relate to trips Adams took years ago when he was Brooklyn borough president.
It was unclear whether this week’s indictment was the last word on federal investigations involving the administration.
Federal prosecutors are believed to be leading multiple, separate inquiries involving Adams and his senior aides and relatives of those aides.
In early September, federal investigators seized devices from the police commissioner, schools chancellor, two deputy mayors and other trusted Adams confidants.
In the last two weeks alone, the police commissioner resigned and the schools chancellor announced he would retire.
Neither has been charged with a crime or been publicly accused of wrongdoing.
