Bribery from Turkiye and Others Since Brooklyn Borough President
Prosecutors Conduct Additional Raids... Investigating Links to 5 Countries Including Korea
Eric Adams, the Democratic mayor of New York City, has been indicted by federal prosecutors on charges of accepting lavish travel hospitality and illegal campaign funds from Turkey and other sources years before his mayoral election. Adams is the first sitting New York mayor to be indicted, and the amount of bribes he allegedly received is reported to exceed $100,000 (approximately 132 million KRW). Federal prosecutors have conducted additional searches of the mayor's official residence and are investigating connections with other countries, including South Korea, raising the possibility of further indictments.
According to the indictment released on the 26th (local time) by the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York, the Manhattan federal prosecutor's office charged Mayor Adams with five criminal counts, including electronic financial fraud, bribery, and illegal campaign fundraising.
Prosecutors believe that during the 2021 New York mayoral election, Adams raised illegal campaign funds from foreign entities such as Turkey. The United States prohibits receiving campaign funds from foreign governments, foreign nationals, or foreign organizations. Prosecutors allege that in exchange for receiving illegal campaign funds, Adams pressured the fire department in 2021 to improperly grant occupancy permits for the "Turkey House" being constructed in New York by the Turkish government, applying bribery charges.
Adams is also accused of receiving inappropriate benefits such as lavish trips from wealthy foreign businessmen and Turkish government officials for about ten years since his tenure as Brooklyn Borough President starting in 2014. Prosecutors specifically determined that he received various free round-trip international flight upgrades, business-class tickets, and discounted hotel stays from Turkish diplomats. The total value of these benefits is estimated to exceed $100,000.
Adams has maintained a close relationship with Turkey, having visited the country at least six times and meeting with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdo?an during his time as borough president.
Damian Williams, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York, told reporters, "It is important to clarify that these upgrades and free benefits were not part of any commercial loyalty program available to the general public," adding, "This was a years-long scheme to curry favor with Eric Adams, an emerging New York City politician." He emphasized, "Mayor Adams crossed clear red lines multiple times," and "the investigation is ongoing."
Prosecutors conducted a search of the mayor's official residence early that morning, seizing Adams' cellphone, signaling potential additional charges.
The Adams camp strongly denies the allegations and stated that he will not resign from office and will fight the prosecution.
As the second Black mayor in New York City's history, Adams faces a significant blow to his political career due to this indictment. A former police officer, he was elected on a platform of law and order governance, but his morality and integrity are now severely compromised. Although he was the likely Democratic nominee and frontrunner for the next mayoral election in the predominantly Democratic city, calls for Adams' resignation are growing louder.
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