New York Mayor Eric Adams pleads not guilty to corruption charges
New York City Mayor Eric Adams pleaded not guilty on Friday to federal charges of accepting bribes and illegal campaign contributions from Turkish nationals, as the Democrat resists mounting calls from within his own party to resign. Adams, 64, entered the plea before U.S. Magistrate Judge Katharine Parker at his first appearance in the case in Manhattan federal court. He wore a dark blue suit with a purple dotted tie, and stared straight ahead as Parker explained the five felony counts he faces, including bribery and wire fraud. "I am not guilty, your honor," Adams said when Parker asked for his plea. His lawyer, Alex Spiro, said he would file a motion to dismiss the charges next week. Adams is next due in court on Oct. 2. In the indictment unsealed on Thursday, federal prosecutors said Turkish diplomats and businesspeople illegally funneled money to Adams' campaign and showered him with luxury travel perks, including business-class airplane tickets, opulent hotel stays and meals at high-end restaurants. In exchange, Adams in 2021 pressured city officials to allow Turkey's new 36-story consulate to open despite safety concerns, according to prosecutors. After the hearing, Spiro told reporters the accusations rested on the assertions of an Adams staffer who falsely implicated Adams. He minimized the severity of the charges, and said he expected them to be dismissed. "This isn't even a real case. This is the airline upgrade corruption case," Spiro said. According to the indictment, Adams accepted free travel from Turkish Airlines worth tens of thousands of dollars while serving as Brooklyn borough president and paid $600 to stay two nights at a luxury suite in the St. Regis hotel in Istanbul, well below the actual cost of $7,000. Prosecutors said Adams would fly on Turkish Airlines even when it was inconvenient. "You know first stop is always Istanbul," he wrote in a 2017 text message when his partner expressed surprise that they were flying from New York to Paris through Istanbul, according to the indictment. Turkish Airlines did not immediately respond to a request for comment on Friday.<br/>
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New York Mayor Eric Adams pleads not guilty to corruption charges
New York City Mayor Eric Adams pleaded not guilty on Friday to federal charges of accepting bribes and illegal campaign contributions from Turkish nationals, as the Democrat resists mounting calls from within his own party to resign. Adams, 64, entered the plea before U.S. Magistrate Judge Katharine Parker at his first appearance in the case in Manhattan federal court. He wore a dark blue suit with a purple dotted tie, and stared straight ahead as Parker explained the five felony counts he faces, including bribery and wire fraud. "I am not guilty, your honor," Adams said when Parker asked for his plea. His lawyer, Alex Spiro, said he would file a motion to dismiss the charges next week. Adams is next due in court on Oct. 2. In the indictment unsealed on Thursday, federal prosecutors said Turkish diplomats and businesspeople illegally funneled money to Adams' campaign and showered him with luxury travel perks, including business-class airplane tickets, opulent hotel stays and meals at high-end restaurants. In exchange, Adams in 2021 pressured city officials to allow Turkey's new 36-story consulate to open despite safety concerns, according to prosecutors. After the hearing, Spiro told reporters the accusations rested on the assertions of an Adams staffer who falsely implicated Adams. He minimized the severity of the charges, and said he expected them to be dismissed. "This isn't even a real case. This is the airline upgrade corruption case," Spiro said. According to the indictment, Adams accepted free travel from Turkish Airlines worth tens of thousands of dollars while serving as Brooklyn borough president and paid $600 to stay two nights at a luxury suite in the St. Regis hotel in Istanbul, well below the actual cost of $7,000. Prosecutors said Adams would fly on Turkish Airlines even when it was inconvenient. "You know first stop is always Istanbul," he wrote in a 2017 text message when his partner expressed surprise that they were flying from New York to Paris through Istanbul, according to the indictment. Turkish Airlines did not immediately respond to a request for comment on Friday.<br/>
