After several members of his administration had their homes raided as part of the federal investigation, New York City mayor Eric Adams has been indicted on criminal charges.
CNBC reported early Thursday that Adams has been indicted, and the indictment is sealed.
The charges were not immediately clear. Spokespeople for the FBI and the U.S. attorney for the Southern District of New York declined to comment.
However, an official arrest could happen as soon as today according to reports.
Multiple sources: NYC Mayor Eric Adams to be arrested – possibly as early as tomorrow. pic.twitter.com/HjyITNeb4I
— NYScanner (@nyscanner) September 26, 2024
In a statement released Wednesday night, Adams said:
“I always knew that if I stood my ground for New Yorkers that I would be a target — and a target I became. If I am charged, I am innocent and I will fight this with every ounce of my strength and spirit.”
The Adams administration was already reeling from a series of high-level resignations because of at least four federal probes, including NYPD Commissioner Edward Caban.
One of the investigations is believed to be focused on whether Adams’ mayoral campaign conspired with the Turkish government to receive illegal campaign contributions from foreign sources. As part of that probe, the FBI last year searched a home in Brooklyn belonging to Adams’ chief fundraiser.
Federal investigators have also been looking into whether Adams pressured the city’s fire commissioner to approve a new building housing the Turkish Consulate despite safety concerns.
Adams was still Brooklyn’s borough president when, shortly after he won the Democratic mayoral primary in 2021, he reached out to then-Fire Commissioner Daniel Nigro, according to sources familiar with the matter. Adams encouraged Nigro to evaluate a request from the Turkish government to use the building, which had not yet opened because fire department officials had refused to sign off on the safety of its occupancy.
The Adams team also faces a public corruption investigation and another federal probe that led to a search of homes belonging to Adams’ former director of Asian affairs, according to NBC News.
Adams, 64, a former NYPD captain and Brooklyn borough president, has repeatedly denied any wrongdoing.
Late yesterday, outspoken U.S. Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, D-N.Y., called for Adams to resign.
Ocasio-Cortez said on X that the multiple federal investigations into the Adams’ administration is rendering his government ineffective.
“I do not see how Mayor Adams can continue governing New York City,” Ocasio-Cortez said. “The flood of resignations and vacancies are threatening gov function. Nonstop investigations will make it impossible to recruit and retain a qualified administration. For the good of the city, he should resign.”
I do not see how Mayor Adams can continue governing New York City.
The flood of resignations and vacancies are threatening gov function. Nonstop investigations will make it impossible to recruit and retain a qualified administration.
For the good of the city, he should resign.…
— Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (@AOC) September 25, 2024
This in an on-going story. Check back for further developments.