Mayor Eric Adams’ attorney joins board of Turkish transportation company

By New York Post (U.S.) | Created at 2024-12-26 01:49:07 | Updated at 2024-12-26 13:12:14 11 hours ago
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Matthew McDermott

The attorney representing Mayor Eric Adams in his historic federal corruption case joined the board of directors of a Turkish transportation app, the company announced Friday.

Alex Spiro was elected to the board of Marti Technologies, described as Turkey’s “leading mobility super app,” at the company’s 2024 annual shareholder meeting, according to a press release.

Spiro joins the Istanbul-based ride-hailing app as he simultaneously represents Adams in New York for allegedly accepting bribes from Turkish nationals in exchange for fast-tracking building inspections for the new Turkish consulate building located in the Turtle Bay neighborhood of Manhattan.

Alex SpiroAlex Spiro is a Harvard-educated attorney known for representing high-profile clients such as Jay-Z. Matthew McDermott

Spiro did not immediately respond to The Post’s request for comment on Wednesday, nor did City Hall.

In the press release, Spiro, who is a partner at Quinn Emanuel Urquhart & Sullivan LLP, said he is excited to support the Turkish company’s leadership team.

“I am pleased to support them and the company as we reach scale and achieve profitability in 2025,” Spiro said.

The celebrity attorney is known for repping high-profile clients from Alec Baldwin to Jay-Z.

“I have had the good fortune of working with some of the greatest entrepreneurs and companies in the world,” read a statement from Spiro after the election of the board.

Mayor eric adamsMayor Eric Adams has repeatedly denied any wrongdoing. Jesus King/Shutterstock

Adams stands accused of accepting more than $100,000 worth of flight upgrades on Turkish Airlines and hotel upgrades during frequent visits to Istanbul over five years.

Federal officials have also accused Adams of receiving phony “straw donations” from Turkish nationals for the mayor’s 2021 campaign and then using the illegal donations to get $10 million in taxpayer-funded matching campaign funds.

In exchange for the ritzy perks and donations, prosecutors allege Adams pressured the FDNY to allow the consulate building, dubbed Turkish House, to open even though it hadn’t passed a fire inspection.

Hizzoner has repeatedly denied any wrongdoing and refused to step down amid the allegations. He pleaded not guilty and said he plans to fight the charges in court next year.

“It takes a great deal of discipline to not say something when you know you’ve done nothing wrong,” Adams said in August when asked about the mayoral campaign investigation.

Erden Arkan, the Turkish-born owner of KSK Construction Group in Williamsburg, who allegedly showered Adams with the illegal straw donations, is expected to plead guilty in the corruption case, federal officials said Monday.

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