When a ship is going down, the rats begin to flee. The same is true when it comes to the downfall of a powerful public official. Federal prosecutors last week unsealed an indictment against Eric Adams, charging the New York mayor with fraud, bribery, conspiracy and soliciting illegal campaign donations from foreign donors.
The detailed 57-page indictment alleges that as a result of illegally obtained campaign funds, Adams fraudulently received more than $10 million in public matching funds. The indictment further accuses Adams of accepting bribes in the form of luxury international travel accommodations valued at more than $100,000 from foreign nationals in exchange for favors. Adams has denied the allegations and pleaded not guilty.
But the indictment appears to reflect a strong case because it provides great detail about the evidence in support of the allegations, including direct and damning quotations from texts and emails. Manhattan U.S.
Attorney Damian Williams stated the investigation remains ongoing and that his office would “hold more people accountable.” He encouraged individuals with information about criminal conduct by the mayor to come forward “before it’s too late.” The charges brought to mind a case I supervised when I served as U.
S. attorney for the Eastern District of Michigan. Former Detroit Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick was a talented and popular mayor first elected in 2002 and reelected in 2006.
He would later be convicted on charges of racketeering co.