Eric Adams, the retired police captain who was elected New York City’s 110th mayor nearly three years ago on a promise to curb crime, has been indicted as part of a federal corruption investigation, people familiar with the case said.
Media sources say the mayor could appear in court as early as Thursday morning local time for arraignment.
With the unsealing of the indictment, which was reported separately by the Associated Press and CBS, he will become the first sitting mayor of New York City to face criminal charges.
After the news broke, Adams issued a video statement indicating that he had not been informed of the indictment. He 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.”
In a speech recorded at his official residence, Adams acknowledged that some New Yorkers will question his ability to run the city while he fights the charges, but he vowed to stay in office. He also said:
“I have been facing these lies for months … yet the city has continued to improve. Make no mistake. You elected me to lead this city and lead it I will.”
Avi Small, a spokesman for Governor Kathy Hochul, who has the power to remove Adams from office, said in a statement to the Times that the governor is aware and will monitor the situation. Small said:
“It would be premature to comment further until the matter is confirmed by law enforcement.”
The news comes after some of the governor’s closest aides and advisers came under federal investigation as city prosecutors began probing his inner circle.
Talking about the mayor resignation
The Adams-related developments come less than a month after federal agents searched the homes of high-ranking officials from the Adams administration. Agents seized devices from the home of the New York Police Department commissioner.
According to the New York Post, police set up barricades outside Gracie Mansion, where the mayor resides. According to the publication, City Hall staff learned Wednesday morning that Adams was about to be indicted, leading to panic throughout the day. The US Attorney’s Office in Manhattan declined to comment.
Earlier this week, when asked if he was going to resign over the investigations, Adams flatly rejected the idea and said he looked forward to running for re-election and eventually being sworn in for a second term.
If Adams resigns or is removed by the governor, his duties will be assumed temporarily by New York Public Advocate Jumaane Williams, who will have three days to call a special election, which must be held within 80 days.
As ABC News previously reported, the investigation into the New York City mayor was at least in part about whether Adams and his campaign solicited illegal donations from Turkey by pressuring the fire service to rush through an inspection of the new Turkish consulate. Investigators were also looking into whether Adams received upgrades on Turkish Airlines flights.
Adams’ attorneys, Brendan McGuire and Boyd Johnson, said they conducted their own investigation along the lines federal prosecutors are considering and concluded the mayor had done nothing wrong.
