New York City Mayor Eric Adams is charged with bribery and fraud

New York Mayor Eric Adams has been indicted on charges of bribery, fraud and accepting illegal campaign contributions from foreigners. He is the first mayor of New York to face criminal charges while in office.

Federal agents charged Adams with five felonies, including conspiracy to commit wire fraud. They say he helped Turkish officials avoid a fire inspection for a new diplomatic building in exchange for gifts. Agents conducted a search of the mayor’s residence in Manhattan.

U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York Damian Williams said at a news conference that Adams was involved in “a long-standing conspiracy” and accepted donations from donors “even though he knew they were illegal.”

Some Democrats are calling for Adams to resign “for the good of the city.” However, he denied any wrongdoing and refused to resign.

After the charges were dropped Thursday, Adams held a news conference. He said: “My everyday life will not change. I will continue to do the work for the 8.3 million New Yorkers I was elected to serve.”

The people of New York have seen a number of the mayor’s employees either investigated or resigned from their positions.

Of the charges, one woman said: “I thought it could happen at any moment because I just don’t think any of this is right. And what’s happening in the city is just crazy.”

One man said: “He is a politician in the city. Nothing is surprising, but it is surprising that he was actually charged.”

Adams spent 22 years in the New York Police Department, rising to captain before entering politics. He plans to run for re-election next year.