By The Guardian (World News) | Created at 2024-09-26 02:15:11 | Updated at 2024-09-30 15:24:29
4 days ago
Eric Adams, the New York City mayor, has been indicted following a federal corruption investigation, according to the New York Times.
It is still unclear what charges Adams, 64, will face. Once the indictment is released, he will be the first sitting New York City mayor to be criminally charged. Federal prosecutors are expected to layout the details of the charges Thursday, the newspaper reported.
The news comes as some of his closest aides and advisers have come under federal investigation as prosecutors in the city began examining his inner circle.
The development regarding Adams comes less than a month after federal agents raided the homes of high-ranking officials within Adams’ administration. Agents seized devices from the home of the New York police department commissioner.
The Adams administration could not be immediately reached for a comment.
Federal investigations into his administration first emerged publicly on 2 November 2023 when FBI agents conducted an early morning raid on the Brooklyn home of Adams’ chief fundraiser, Brianna Suggs.
At the time, Adams insisted he followed the law and said he would be “shocked” if anyone on his campaign had acted illegally. “I cannot tell you how much I start the day with telling my team we’ve got to follow the law,” he told reporters at the time.
Days later, FBI agents seized the mayor’s phones and iPad as he was leaving an event in Manhattan. The interaction was disclosed several days later by the mayor’s attorney.
Then, on 4 September, federal investigators seized electronic devices from the city’s police commissioner, schools chancellor, deputy mayor of public safety, first deputy mayor and other trusted confidantes of Adams both in and out of City Hall.
Federal prosecutors declined to discuss the investigations but people familiar with elements of the cases described multiple, separate inquiries involving senior Adams aides, relatives of those aides, campaign fundraising and possible influence peddling of the police and fire departments.
