Eric Adams, former NYPD captain, becomes first NYC mayor indicted in office after being ensnared in federal corruption investigation
New York City Mayor Eric Adams painted himself as a victim of persecution after being indicted on federal charges last night, saying he was singled out by the Biden administration for his stance on the migrant crisis.
Adams, 64, became the first New York City mayor to be charged criminally while still in office on Wednesday. The indictment remains sealed.
In a pre-recorded video statement released on Wednesday night, Adams chalked it all up to a political witch hunt. He believes he is being unfairly cast out for speaking out against the Biden administration’s disastrous handling of the migrant crisis.
While the indictment remains sealed, Adams has came under fire in the past for questionable donations to his 2021 campaign from associates of the Turkish government.
The New York Times reports that Adams’ dealings with Israel, China, Qatar, South Korea and Uzbekistan are also under the federal microscope.
His indictment on Wednesday comes after a turbulent month of investigations and subsequent resignations from senior members of the NYC government.
Eric Adams has painted himself as a victim of persecution after being indicted – saying he was singled out by the Biden administration for his stance on the migrant crisis
In a two-minute clip filmed from Gracie Mansion, the politician said he ‘always knew’ he would become a target because of his views, before reminding onlookers the he has beseeched Joe Biden for federal help. He claimed the investigations into him were started in response
Defiant in his pre-recorded statement last night, Adams said: ‘It is now my belief that the federal government is attempting charge me with crimes. If so, these charges will be entirely false, based on lies,’ he continued, before laying blame elsewhere.
‘But they will not be surprising. I always knew that if I stood my ground for all of you, that I would be a target. And a target I became.
‘For months, leaks, rumors, have been aimed at me in an attempt to undermine my credibility and paint me as guilty,’ he went on.
‘Just this past week, they searched the home of our new police commissioner, looking for documents from 20 years ago.
‘Enough.’
Adams went on to say, citing how the raid came just a week after new commissioner Thomas G. Donlon suddenly replaced predecessor Edward Caban, who was handpicked by Adams to replace outgoing Keechant Sewell.
‘I will fight these injustices with every ounce of my strength and my spirit,’ Adams declared.
‘If I’m charged, I know I am innocent.
‘I will request an immediate trial so that New Yorkers can hear the truth.’
The political newcomer proceeded to point his law enforcement background, which he leaned on intensely three years ago during a successful campaign that touted him as tough-on-crime.
‘New Yorkers know my story and know where I come from,’ the former police captain said. ‘I have been fighting injustices my entire life. That fight has continued as your mayor.
Turning back to the migrant situation that has seen 217,300 foreigners funneled into the city, he proclaimed: ‘Despite our pleas, the federal government did nothing as it’s broken immigration policies [and] overloaded our shelter system.
‘I put the people of New York before party and politics,’ the mayor pressed on – before a lengthy pause.
He went on to concede how in coming days, he will likely face calls to resign, but said he will resist all calls to step down.
‘But I have been facing these lies for months, since I began to speak out for all of you – and there investigation started,’ he continued, crying conspiracy
‘Yet, the city has continued to improve.’
A less somber Adams is seen outside Gracie Mansion flashing a thumbs up sign to a reporter just before news of the indictment broke. He was there Wednesday night as well
He then offered a final sign-off.
‘You elected me to lead this city, and lead it I will. I humbly ask for your prayers and patience as we see this through. God bless you, and God bless the city of New York. Thank you.’
Adams initially welcomed the concept of New York being a sanctuary city – with the then campaigning mayor, just days before he was elected, celebrating the then new arrivals as ‘keeping our city running’ during the pandemic.
‘The days I spent with our essential employees, a substantial number of them were undocumented,’ he added at the time, before changing his tune a little over a year later.
‘They were delivering out Uber Eats, they were stocking our stores, they were out in the streets keeping our city running.’
Adams initially welcomed the concept of New York being a sanctuary city – with the then campaigning mayor, just days before he was elected, celebrating the then new arrivals as ‘keeping our city running’ during the pandemic
As the border crisis worsened, Adams abruptly changed his tune, asking for federal help In July 2022.
The following month, he said the city had a ‘moral and legal obligation to house anyone who is experiencing homelessness.’
By the start of 2023, he shifted gears completely, having civic staffers hand out yellow fliers to immigrants that disclaimed was ‘no guarantee’ they would receive shelter or services if they went to New York.
‘Housing in NYC is very expensive,’ the fliers said. ‘Please consider another city as you make your decision about where to settle in the US.’
But migrants remained undeterred, arriving in droves on a daily basis.
And in the months that followed, many of his top aides became the targets of investigations.
On September 4, agents stormed the homes of First Deputy Mayor Sheena Wright and Deputy Mayor for Public Safety Phil Banks.
In November, the home of Adams’ top fundraiser, Brianna Suggs, was raided.
He side-stepped the scandal, quickly reassigning Suggs to a bureaucratic role.
She is among those expected to be named in the indictment against him.
Both reportedly had their electronic devices taken, as was the case with Adams back in November, when he had his phone snatched following a raid of the home of his campaign treasurer, Brianna Suggs
Earlier this month, agents stormed the homes of First Deputy Mayor Sheena Wright and Deputy Mayor for Public Safety Phil Banks, in a series of raids that for now remain under wraps
In the last month, NYPD Commissioner Edward Caban and the chief of NYC public schools have also resigned.
Caban’s resignation was the product of an investigation into whether or not his twin brother squeezed his political connections to win business favors with NYC nightclubs.
Other recent exits include those of two ex-FDNY chiefs accused of bribery, corruption and false statements.
Police Commissioner Edward Caban resigned on September 13, as the nature of feds’ renewed investigation remains unknown. Caban was personally picked to head the New York Police Department in 2023
Anthony Saccavino, 59, is facing charges of bribery, corruption and false statements for a building inspection scheme
The new subpoenas came eight months after the initial corruption investigation surfaced, with the mayor struggling with approval ratings ever since.
He also faces at least three challengers in the 2025 Democratic primary, if he plans to seek reelection.
More federal investigations and resignations have ensued since, spurring Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez to demand Adams to resign on Wednesday night.
‘The flood of resignations and vacancies are threatening government function,’ Ocasio-Cortez wrote on X.
‘Nonstop investigations will make it impossible to recruit and retain a qualified administration.’
Sources told Pix11 the raid on Caban stemmed from a separate probe to the investigation into Adams’ campaign financing (the exterior of the home where NYPD Commissioner Edward Caban lives is seen here)
