Eric Adams Pleads Not Guilty in Bribery and Wire Fraud Case, Becomes First Sitting NYC Mayor Arraigned as Criminal Defendant

On Friday, Eric Adams made history as the first sitting mayor of New York City to appear in court as a criminal defendant. Facing charges of bribery, wire fraud, and accepting illegal campaign contributions, Adams pleaded not guilty during his arraignment before Judge Katharine Parker.

“I am not guilty, your honor,” Adams declared, waiving a public reading of the 57-page indictment, stating he had already reviewed the document.

The indictment, unsealed Thursday, alleges Adams accepted improper gifts from Turkish officials and businesspeople, including free hotel stays and discounted airline tickets to countries like France, China, Sri Lanka, India, Hungary, Ghana, and Turkey. In return, prosecutors claim Adams used his position to benefit these patrons, including facilitating approvals for a new Turkish diplomatic tower in Manhattan despite fire safety concerns.

Following his surrender to authorities on Friday morning, Adams was fingerprinted and photographed before being released on his own recognizance. He was instructed to avoid contact with any witnesses or individuals named in the indictment, though he may continue personal or professional relationships with family members or staff, provided the case is not discussed.

“This does not preclude Mayor Adams from having conversations about business or private family matters,” Judge Parker clarified.

Adams will return to court next week for an initial conference before the district judge overseeing the case. His attorney, Alex Spiro, announced plans to file a motion to dismiss the charges on Wednesday.

As Adams exited the courthouse, he was greeted by supporters shouting encouragement. “Eric, I love you!” one called, to which Adams responded with his trademark thumbs up. However, the mayor himself remained silent, leaving his attorney to defend his innocence.

Spiro criticized the media spectacle surrounding the case, dismissing it as lacking substantial evidence. “This isn’t even a real case. This is the airline upgrade corruption case,” he argued, claiming the prosecution’s case hinges on the testimony of a single staffer, whose credibility he questioned.

“There are no emails, no text messages, no corroboration that the mayor knew anything about these campaign donations,” Spiro said. He further alleged that the staffer involved had lied, and that the government was aware of this deception.

Adams faces charges of bribery, soliciting illegal foreign campaign contributions, wire fraud, and conspiracy to commit wire fraud, all of which could result in significant prison time if convicted. Prosecutors claim Adams received over $100,000 in free and discounted flight upgrades, as well as campaign donations from straw donors, which helped him secure more than $10 million in matching public campaign funds.

“Mayor Adams took these contributions knowing they were illegal and aimed at buying influence,” said U.S. Attorney Damian Williams. According to the indictment, Adams accepted first-class flights and luxurious hotel stays without disclosing them, as required by law. “Year after year, he kept the public in the dark, claiming he received no gifts,” Williams added.