New York City Mayor Eric Adams pleaded not guilty Friday in federal court in Manhattan at his arraignment on criminal charges of receiving illegal campaign donations and gifts of undisclosed luxury travel while doing favors for Turkey’s government and Turkish businesspeople.
Adams, 64, is charged in a five-count indictment unsealed Thursday alleging conspiracy, bribery, wire fraud and soliciting campaign contributions by foreign nationals.
New York City Mayor Eric Adams arrives at federal court for his arraignment after he was charged with bribery and illegally soliciting a campaign contribution from a foreign national, in New York City, U.S. September 27, 2024.
Brendan Mcdermid | Reuters
The mayor told Magistrate Judge Katharine Parker at Friday’s hearing that he understood his rights as a defendant. He waived a public reading of the indictment in court.
Asked by Parker what his plea was, Adams replied, “I am not guilty, your honor.”
Under an agreement with prosecutors, Adams will be free on his promise to return to court for all proceedings, without having to post monetary bail.
Parker said, “He shall have no contact with any individual witnesses or others listed in the list to be provided by the government concerning the facts or circumstances as provided in the indictment.”
Adams’ lawyer, Alex Spiro, told Parker, “We will be filing a motion to dismiss” the charges next Wednesday, when the mayor is next due in court for a conference in the case.
Spiro also said, “We are going to be wanting a speedy trial here.”
Adams, even before the indictment, was facing a growing number of challengers in the Democratic mayoral primary next year.
He has vowed to fight the case, even as an increasing number of New York politicians call for his resignation and as Gov. Kathy Hochul, a fellow Democrat, weighs whether to force him from office by invoking a never-before-used provision of the city’s charter.
Correction: This story has been updated to correct the spelling of Magistrate Judge Katharine Parker’s name.
