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NYC Mayor Adams could face more criminal charges, prosecutors say
By
Samantha Max
Published Jan 7, 2025
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Benny Polatseck/Mayoral Photography Office
By
Samantha Max
Published Jan 7, 2025
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Law enforcement has uncovered “additional criminal conduct” by Mayor Eric Adams, the U.S. attorney’s office for the Southern District of New York said in a new court filing.
Prosecutors didn’t specify what that conduct was. But in a memo filed on Monday night, they said officials have uncovered more crimes and more people who allegedly helped the mayor to carry them out.
The U.S. attorney’s office filed the memo in response to the mayor’s request for more information about the evidence in his criminal case. The office said some of Adams’ demands — including for a list of every alleged co-conspirator — could jeopardize what they called an “ongoing investigation.”
“The indictment provides ample cause to believe that as potential witnesses became known to Adams and his allies, measures were taken to influence their testimony,” prosecutors wrote.
The memo provides new details about the large swath of materials prosecutors have gathered during their investigation, including financial records, messages between alleged co-conspirators and documents from Turkish Airlines. Prosecutors said they have also gathered records from Adams’ 2021 and 2025 mayoral campaigns. So far, Adams has only been charged with misconduct in relation to the first race.
When asked about the allegations of additional criminal conduct at a press conference on Tuesday, Adams said, “even Ray Charles can see what’s going on,” and referred questions about the case to his lawyer.
“I’ve said over and over again, I’ve done nothing wrong. Let the attorneys do that,” Adams said. “I have to run the city.”
Defense attorney Alex Spiro called prosecutors’ statements “amateur hour” in a text message.
“They are just looking for a headline instead of doing the right thing,” he said. “I assume we are at the point where New Yorkers are not falling for it.”
Federal prosecutors unsealed a five-count indictment against Adams in September, accusing him of trading his political power for pricey flight upgrades and illegal campaign donations. The U.S. attorney’s office said days later that it would likely bring more charges against Adams and others.
The mayor has pleaded not guilty and asked — unsuccessfully — for a judge to dismiss the bribery charge against him. His trial is slated for April, in the midst of his re-election campaign. President-elect Donald Trump has said he’s thinking about pardoning Adams, who he said “was treated pretty unfairly.”
Tagged
new york city
Adams investigations
eric adams
Samantha Max
Samantha reports on whether New Yorkers feel safe and whether the institutions that are supposed to protect them are working. Before coming to WNYC/Gothamist, she spent three years covering the criminal justice system in Tennessee for Nashville Public Radio. Her reporting on Nashville's police department received multiple awards, including the Daniel Schorr Journalism Prize. Samantha was also part of the inaugural class of Report for America, a service journalism program that sends up-and-coming reporters to local newsrooms across the country. She is a Northwestern University grad, a Baltimore native and fluent in Spanish. Got a tip? Email [email protected] or Signal: samanthamaxwnyc.93.
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Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
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