A Turkish businessman told Eric Adams he would “soon” become the US president, after he and his peers lavished the New York mayor with according to prosecutors. Mr Adams, 64, is accused of having “sought and s” including luxury international travel from “at least one Turkish government official seeking to gain influence over him”. On Thursday, Mr Adams became the city’s after he was charged with five counts including bribery, wire fraud and soliciting contributions from foreign nationals.
The 57-page indictment paints an extraordinary picture of an unscrupulous candidate motivated by greed and power to accept bribes and illegal donations in his attempt to become mayor. It outlines an alleged scheme in which Mr Adams enjoyed opulent hotel stays, meals at high-end restaurants and a swathe of illegal donations to bolster his 2021 campaign. In exchange, Mr Adams is accused of pressuring city officials to greenlight the opening of the new 36-storey Turkish consulate — despite safety concerns — in time for the visit of the country’s president, to New York.
The New York mayor is accused of seeking and accepting thousands in illegal contributions from foreign nationals, which he allegedly used to “defraud” New York City and “steal public funds” for his successful 2021 campaign. If convicted of the charges, the Democrat could be jailed for up to 45 years. Mr Adams has insisted he is innocent and has said he will “continue to do my job as mayor”.
Accordi.