A federal judge has confirmed that New York City Mayor Eric Adams will make his initial court appearance for arraignment at noon on Friday in Lower Manhattan. Adams will appear before Magistrate Judge Katharine Parker and is expected to undergo the standard arrest procedures, including booking and fingerprinting, ahead of his court appearance. He is scheduled to return to court next Friday for a preliminary conference.
Despite a request from Adams’ attorney to delay the arraignment until Monday, the judge appears to have denied it, maintaining the Friday court date.
The charges against Adams stem from a 57-page, five-count federal indictment unsealed Thursday, accusing the mayor of bribery, wire fraud, and accepting illegal campaign contributions. The indictment alleges that Adams received illegal flight upgrades valued at over $100,000, as well as campaign contributions from straw donors that helped him secure more than $10 million in public matching funds. Prosecutors claim Adams knowingly accepted the contributions to influence policy decisions.
U.S. Attorney Damian Williams stated, “Mayor Adams took these contributions knowing they were illegal and aimed at buying influence,” adding that the mayor failed to disclose luxury flights and hotel stays, violating disclosure laws.
Mayor Eric Adams is also accused of exerting influence over New York City Fire Department procedures to favor foreign interests. In one case, he allegedly pressured fire inspectors to approve the opening of a Turkish consulate building, despite safety concerns, in exchange for personal benefits.
Federal law prohibits foreign nationals from contributing to U.S. elections, a rule designed to safeguard the democratic process. U.S. Attorney Damian Williams outlined how Adams, fully aware of these legal restrictions, “instructed his staff to pursue this illegal money.” This allegedly occurred not only during his 2021 mayoral campaign but continued after he assumed office, with Adams reportedly re-engaging with the same foreign donors to support his reelection efforts.
