Eric Adams was indicted on 5 criminal charges but denies wrongdoing in language that mirrors Trump. The mayor says the criminal case is "based on lies" and related to his criticism of Biden. New York City Mayor Eric Adams' indictment may be unprecedented , but his rhetoric isn't.
In his staunch denial of any wrongdoing, Adams is sounding eerily similar to another politician: former President Donald Trump. A federal grand jury indicted Adams on criminal charges, including bribery and receiving illegal campaign contributions from foreign nationals, making him the city's first mayor to be indicted while in office. The indictment, which was unsealed Thursday, alleges he accepted $100,000 worth of luxury travel in exchange for political favors to Turkish officials.
He pleaded not guilty to the charged Friday. If convicted, he faces up to 45 years in prison. Adams, a Democrat, is remaining defiant against a growing chorus of New Yorkers calling on him to resign .
He's borrowing Trump's favored narratives of lies and fraud from the federal government, all while invoking his own strength. In a video released before the indictment, Adams appeared to blame the justice department for leaks and rumors he said were an attempt to try to make him seem guilty. "These charges will be entirely false, based on lies.
But they would not be surprising," he said in the video, which appeared to be filmed at Gracie Mansion, the mayor's residence. "I always knew that if I stood my ground for all of yo.