New York City mayor charged with bribery, wire fraud and soliciting illegal foreign campaign donations – live | US news

US district court in New York to hold press conference at 11:30am ET on ‘significant public corruption charges’

Here is more from the federal indictment against Eric Adams:

In 2014, Eric Adams, the defendant, became Brooklyn borough president. Thereafter, for nearly a decade, Adams sought and accepted improper valuable benefits, such as luxury international travel, including from wealthy foreign businesspeople and at least one Turkish govermnent official seeking to gain influence over him.

By 2018, Adams – who had by then made known his plans to run for mayor of New York City – not only accepted, but sought illegal campaign contributions to his 2021 mayoral campaign, as well as other things of value, from foreign nationals.

As Adams’s prominence and power grew, his foreign-national benefactors sought to cash in on their c01rnpt relationships with him, particularly when, in 2021, it became clear that Adams would become New York City’s mayor. Adams agreed, providing favorable treatment in exchange for the illicit benefits he received.

After his inauguration as Mayor of New York City, Adams soon began preparing for his next election, including by planning to solicit more illegal contributions and granting requests from those who supported his 2021 mayoral campaign with such donations.

Eric Adams charged with wire fraud, bribery among other counts

The US district court of the southern district of New York has issued a press guidance for its 11.30am press conference, according to reports.

The guidance said the presser concerns “significant public corruption charges,” according to New York Daily News’s Molly Crane-Newman.

Federal prosecutors are set to announce charges against Eric Adams at 11.30am ET, according to reports.

The expected announcement comes after the mayor’s Gracie Mansion on the Upper East Side was raided overnight with federal agents taking away his phone, among other possessions.

Here are some images coming through the news wires of the overnight raid on Eric Adams’s Gracie Mansion in New York City:

Here is video of Eric Adams’s defiant message to New Yorkers last night following reports of a federal indictment against him:

In the two-minute video, Adams refused to resign, saying:

Now, if I am charged, many may say I should resign because I cannot manage the city while fighting the case. I can also understand how everyday New Yorkers would be concerned that I cannot do my job while I face accusations.

But I have been facing these lies for months, since I began to speak out for all of you and their investigation started – yet the city has continued to improve.

Make no mistake: you elected me to lead this city – and lead it I will.”

In response to a question on his thoughts regarding Eric Adams’s reported indictment, Senate majority leader and longtime New Yorker Chuck Schumer said:

I’m talking to my doctor,” NBC’s Frank Thorp V reports.

In a show of solidarity with the mayor, the Brooklyn’s Democratic party’s chair, Rodneyse Bichotte Hermelyn, has released the following statement in response to Eric Adams’s reported indictment:

Our laws mandate due process. An indictment is not a conviction. Every American, every New Yorker, is innocent unless proven otherwise …

Eric Adams has dedicated his life to this city … Fairness demands simply that Mayor Adams is given what each of us would want: a presumption of innocence.

A reported prisoner transport vehicle left Gracie Mansion a short while ago, according to Fox5’s Robert Moses.

New York City mayor’s residence raided in early morning after reports of federal indictment