New details on Adams, accused of taking bribes from Turkey: 'The first stop is always Istanbul'

12PUNTO FOREIGN NEWS

In a 57-page indictment, prosecutors stated that New York City Mayor Eric Adams received illegal funds from Turkey to finance his 2021 mayoral campaign. It was also reported that Adams was provided with free rooms at luxury hotels and meals at high-end restaurants. According to U.S. prosecutors, the relationship between Turkey and Adams dates back to 2014. Following these allegations, while some Democrats have argued that Adams should resign, the mayor has refused to step down from his post.

Prosecutors said that in exchange for these bribes, Adams allowed Turkey's new 36-story consulate, known as the 'Türkevi' (Turkish House), to open despite safety concerns.

The Democratic candidate faces five charges and could face decades in prison if found guilty.

64-year-old Adams has denied the charges and stated that he will fight the accusations in court. The New York City Mayor also emphasized that he will not resign.

The Turkish Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Presidency, and the Embassy in Washington have not made any comments regarding the allegations.

On September 26, federal agents searched the mayor's residence, known as 'Gracie Mansion.'

CORRUPTION CASE A FIRST IN NEW YORK HISTORY

Adams, a former police officer who rose to the rank of captain, became the first New York City Mayor to face criminal charges while in office.

Bennett Gershman, a professor at Pace University School of Law, explained that Adams could be removed from office by Democratic New York Governor Kathy Hochul, but the process is complex.

Hochul had stated, 'As Governor of New York, I will review my options and my obligations.'

In her statement, Hochul had expressed the following:

'I expect the Mayor to take the next few days to review the situation and find an appropriate path forward to ensure that the people of New York are well served by their leaders.'

'A TRUE FRIEND OF TURKEY'

According to the indictment, during his time as Brooklyn Borough President, Adams accepted tens of thousands of dollars worth of free travel from Turkish Airlines and paid $600 to stay in a luxury suite at the St. Regis hotel in Istanbul for two nights; a figure far below the room's actual cost of $7,000.

Prosecutors said that Adams flew with Turkish Airlines even when it was inappropriate.

In one of the messages from 2017 between Adams and his wife included in the indictment, the mayor responded to his wife, who was surprised that they were traveling to Paris via Istanbul, as follows:

'You know the first stop is always Istanbul'

The indictment states that Adams concealed campaign contributions from Turkish sources for his 2021 mayoral campaign by funneling them through U.S. citizens. These funds enabled Adams to qualify for $10 million in public financing during the election period.

Damian Williams, the top federal prosecutor in Manhattan, used the words, 'This was a multi-year scheme to buy favor with a single New York City politician on the rise,' referring to Turkey, during a press conference he held.

Prosecutors say that Adams 'responded to Turkey's concerns.'

The indictment states that acting at the request of a Turkish diplomat, Adams pressured inspectors to allow the Türkevi to open despite failing a fire inspection, so that it would be ready for the visit of AKP Chairman and President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan in September 2021.

It is alleged that after Adams' repeated messages regarding the building, a high-ranking Fire Department official told a subordinate that they would lose their job if they did not allow the consulate to open.

According to the indictment, Adams notified the Turkish diplomat when the Fire Department approved the building's opening.

The diplomat allegedly replied, 'You are a true friend of Turkey.'

Shortly after taking office in 2022, an aide to Adams assured the diplomat that the new mayor would not make a statement regarding the 1915 events in the Ottoman Empire, which Washington refers to as genocide.

Stating, 'If it's about foreign donors, I know I don't take money from foreign donors,' Adams announced that he aims to file a public lawsuit to clear his name.

CITY'S TOP OFFICIALS RESIGNED

The case is likely to complicate Adams' chances of re-election in 2025, as other Democratic politicians plan to challenge him.

Democratic Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez has called for Adams to resign. However, two powerful lawmakers from Brooklyn, U.S. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer and House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries, have refrained from pressuring Adams to resign.

New York has been in political turmoil for the last month. Police Commissioner Edward Caban resigned on September 12 after FBI agents seized his phone. Days later, Adams' chief legal counsel stepped down.

The city's schools chancellor, David Banks, had announced that he would retire at the end of the year following reports in the New York Times that his phones had been seized by federal agents.