NEW YORK – Attorneys representing New York City Mayor Eric Adams are pushing back against the bribery charge brought against him, arguing that the allegations are vague and lack merit. They claim that the prosecutors are overreaching and failing to establish a clear link to a federal crime.
Adams, a Democrat, recently pleaded not guilty to charges of accepting unauthorized travel benefits and campaign contributions from a Turkish official and other foreign nationals in exchange for political favors, including expediting the opening of a Turkish consulate building in Manhattan.
Despite the charges, Adams has vowed to continue serving as mayor and has expressed his determination to fight the accusations with all his might.
In their motion filed on Monday, Adams’ legal team argued that the bribery charge is unfounded, as there is no evidence of a clear quid pro quo arrangement between Adams and Turkish officials. They maintain that Adams was simply assisting a foreign nation in navigating bureaucratic hurdles.
According to the indictment, Adams urged the fire commissioner to accelerate the opening of the consulate building, which was deemed unsafe, ahead of an important visit by Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan. This request came after Adams had received flight upgrades and luxury accommodations, worth thousands of dollars, from the Turkish official.
While the Turkish officials may have sought to cultivate a relationship with Adams, his lawyers argue that his actions do not violate federal bribery laws. They point to a recent Supreme Court ruling that mandates a direct link between gifts and official acts.
The defense team also dismissed the additional charges of soliciting foreign donations and manipulating the city’s funding system as baseless, alleging that they are rooted in false claims made by a disgruntled former staffer.
Adams is scheduled to appear in court on Wednesday for further proceedings.
