New York Mayor Eric Adams has been charged conspiracy to commit wire fraud and bribery, in what federal prosecutors say was a conspiracy to seek and accept illegal campaign contributions.
A federal indictment, unsealed this morning, charges Adams with five counts, related to
“By smuggling their contributions to Adams through U.S.-based straw donors, Adams’ overseas contributors defeated federal laws that serve to prevent foreign influence on U.S. elections,” the indictment stated.
“Wealthy individuals evaded laws designed to limit their power over elected officials by restricting the amount any one person can donate to a candidate. And businesses circumvented New York City’s ban on corporate contributions by funneling their donations through multiple employees, frustrating a law that seeks to reduce corporate power in politics. Adams increased his fundraising by accepting these concealed, illegal donations-at the cost of giving his secret patrons the undue influence over him that the law tries to prevent.”
Adams has denied the allegations, and in a message on social media on Wednesday night, he called the pending charges “entirely false based on lies.” He has resisted calls to resign and said that he will fight the allegations.
ABC News reported this morning that federal agents seized the mayor’s phone.
The mayor was charged by a grand jury of five counts, including two counts of solicitation of a contribution from a foreign national, one count of bribery, one count of wire fraud, and one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud, federal program bribery and to receive campaign contributions by foreign nationals.
More to come.
