New York City Mayor Eric L. Adams was indicted on Wednesday (September 25), becoming the first mayor in the city’s history to be indicted while in office.
The indictment is still sealed, and it is unclear what specific charges Adams will face. According to American media reports, at least some of the charges may be related to improper donations Adams received during his 2021 mayoral campaign. It is believed that the Turkish government illegally provided funds to his campaign team.
Sources revealed that Federal Prosecutor Damian Williams is expected to announce this historic indictment on Thursday (September 26).
The news was first reported by The New York Times, followed by The New York Post, CNBC, CBS, and other media outlets confirming the information from their respective sources.
It is currently uncertain whether this indictment is related to the large-scale search conducted on September 4 targeting several high-ranking officials in the New York City government.
The earlier search operation this month plunged the city government into weeks of turmoil. Reports indicate that the focus of the investigation was on corruption allegations within the mayor’s inner circle.
Sources stated that Adams is expected to surrender to authorities early next week.
In a statement, Adams said, “I have always known that if I stand firm for the people of New York, I will become a target, and indeed I have become a target.”
“I am innocent, and if indicted, I will fight it with all my might,” he said.
Although corruption scandals have forced two New York City mayors to resign in the past, including Jimmy Walker in 1932 and William O’Dwyer in 1950, neither faced indictment. This makes Adams the first incumbent mayor to face indictment since the establishment of the New York City government in 1665.
Earlier this week, reports claimed that prosecutors had subpoenaed City Hall, Adams, and his campaign team in July, requesting information on Adams’ dealings with five other countries, including Israel, China, Qatar, South Korea, and Uzbekistan.