New York City Mayor Eric Adams is due to be arraigned in a federal courthouse on Friday to face five counts of criminal offences, including bribery, wire fraud and soliciting illegal foreign campaign donations. An indictment unveiled on Thursday alleges Adams sought and accepted illegal campaign funds and over $100,000 (£75,000) in luxury travel benefits from Turkish businessmen and an official seeking to gain his influence. Adams, 64, is a former police officer who was elected to lead the most populous US city nearly three years ago on a promise to be tough on crime.
The mayor has denied any wrongdoing and rejected growing calls for his resignation. Mr Adams' arraignment, in which he will be formally informed of the charges and asked to enter a plea, will take place at noon local time before Magistrate Judge Katherine Parker. "I ask New Yorkers to wait to hear our defence before making any judgments," Adams said at a press conference on Thursday.
"I follow the rules, I follow the federal law, I do not do anything that's going to participate in illegal campaign activity." The news conference was regularly interrupted by New York residents who called Adams a "disgrace" to the city and asked for "justice". If convicted, the mayor could face up to 45 years in prison.
New York Governor Kathy Hochul - who has the power to remove the mayor from his post - said on Thursday she was reviewing the charges. "I'm going to take the time I need to review this indictment, see what's embedd.