NEW YORK -- New York City Mayor Eric Adams is scheduled to appear in court Friday to be arraigned on federal bribery, conspiracy and campaign finance charges . Prosecutors allege he abused his power for nearly a decade, putting the interests of foreign nationals above those of his own constituents. Adams denied the accusations laid out in a sprawling 57-page indictment , maintaining his innocence and saying he is ready to fight the charges in court.
"I follow the rules, I follow the law. I do not do anything that's going to participate in illegal campaign activity," he said in a news conference outside Gracie Mansion . The mayor is scheduled to appear in court at noon, but his lawyer asked the court to delay the arraignment until next week.
If convicted on all five counts, he faces up to 45 year in prison. The indictment accuses the mayor of seeking and accepting improper gifts, like luxury travel and illegal campaign contributions from wealthy foreign businesspeople and at least one Turkish government official since he was Brooklyn borough president. His alleged undisclosed travel dates back to 2016, totaling more than $100,000.
"Year after year after year, he kept the public in the dark, he told the public he received no gifts, even though he was secretly being showered with them," said U.S. District Attorney for the Southern District of New York Damian Williams .
Prosecutors say illegal campaign contributions came in through straw donors -- people who contribute someone el.
