Eric Adams, New York’s mayor, is indicted on bribery charges

Editor’s note (September 26th): This story was updated after Mr Adams’s indictment was unsealed.

WHEN ERIC ADAMS, New York City’s mayor, was 15 he was arrested and beaten by a police officer. He went on to become a police officer himself, rising to captain before entering politics. He used that powerful anecdote from his youth to launch his mayoral campaign in 2020. His story resonated with New Yorkers. Nearly four years later, the mayor’s time at City Hall looks precarious. On September 26th Damian Williams, the top federal prosecutor in New York’s southern district, indicted Mr Adams on five counts of wire fraud, bribery and receiving illegal campaign contributions from foreign nationals.

The 57-page indictment charges that, over a decade, Mr Adams accepted business-class flights and luxury hotel stays from wealthy Turkish businessmen and at least one official without disclosing them as required by law. He then allegedly paid back the favours in 2021 by pressuring New York’s fire chief to fix a building-inspection problem for the local Turkish consulate. A Turkish official reportedly rang an aide to Mr Adams and said that Turkey had supported Adams, and it was now “his turn” to support Turkey. When this message was shared with Mr Adams, his response was “I know”.

Mr Adams also allegedly solicited illegal campaign donations from foreign nationals, routing them through American citizens so that the gifts would appear legal. He then tried to conceal wrongdoing in a “clumsy cover-up”, according to Mr Williams.

Mr Adams has denied all wrongdoing. At a press conference shortly before the charges were released, he called the indictment a “story” and said that he looked forward to defending himself. Surrounded by supportive preachers, Mr Adams vowed to remain in office, again rejecting a rising chorus of calls by fellow Democrats to resign.

The “long-running conspiracy” described in the indictment involves more than $100,000 in undisclosed gifts. Prosecutors allege that Mr Adams enjoyed regular business-class flights on Turkish Airlines, which is partly owned by the Turkish government. Mr Adams allegedly received VIP treatment while on holiday in Turkey or used the airline’s Istanbul hub en route to Africa, China, France and India. Sometimes he paid a nominal amount for expensive tickets or created fake paper trails, according to the indictment.

There are other investigations swirling around Mr Adams’s inner circle at City Hall. Earlier this month many of his closest advisers, among them two deputy mayors, had their mobile phones seized by investigators. His police and health commissioners, schools chancellor and legal adviser have all resigned in recent days. Mr Williams and the FBI say their probe is ongoing.

Among the many politicians calling on Mr Adams to resign are Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, a prominent congresswoman representing parts of the Bronx, and some rivals in next year’s mayoral race. “This is a sad day for New Yorkers,” said Brad Lander, the city comptroller who wants to be mayor. “Trust in public institutions—especially City Hall—is essential.” Susan Lerner of Common Cause, a government watchdog, points out that Mr Adams has long bragged about his police background. “Respect for the law has been a cornerstone of this mayor’s tenure,” she says, adding that “he should show some now”.

Mr Adams said he has no intention of stepping down, but he may not have much choice. It is within the power of New York’s governor, Kathy Hochul, to remove him from office. Ms Hochul may worry about his ability to do the job under such a dark cloud. She also may feel pressure to act from Kamala Harris, the Democratic presidential nominee, if the scandal becomes distracting. New York’s governors have used their removal powers sparingly and never directed it at a mayor of New York City. Franklin Roosevelt came close in 1932. He began the process to remove Jimmy Walker, who was embroiled in a bribery scandal. Walker resigned before he was ejected. If Mr Adams is removed—or resigns—Jumaane Williams, the city’s public advocate, an elected watchdog, becomes mayor automatically. He could then set a date for a special election.

The scandal is sadly familiar for New Yorkers. It took decades to throw off the lingering power of Tammany Hall, once the Democratic Party’s corrupt machine in the city. As well as Walker, Bill O’Dwyer, a former cop, resigned as mayor in 1950 amid police-corruption allegations. More recently state lawmakers, including an Assembly speaker and a state-senate president, have spent time in prison for corruption.

The indictment against Mr Adams is rich with tawdry details and allegations of abuse of office. Mr Williams has just had success prosecuting Bob Menendez, a former senator from New Jersey, for corruption. Still, in recent years American courts have made it harder to win such cases. And the charges are replete with intermediaries doing the dirty work; one can imagine the mayor mounting a robust defence based on claims of ignorance of what his foolish aides were doing in his name.

The mayor’s legal future may be uncertain, but there is little doubt about his political standing. His reputation is in tatters. Talking to a local news channel on September 25th, Mr Adams said that government meant “constant change”. Change may be coming his way soon. ■

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