The Eric Adams indictment, explained

New York City Mayor Eric Adams has been indicted by federal authorities for allegedly accepting illegal donations and perks from a Turkish government official and Turkish businesspeople, and providing favorable treatment in return. 

The indictment follows months of investigations by federal prosecutors, who’ve also been looking into many of Adams’s current and former associates, including Schools Chancellor David Banks and Police Commissioner Edward Caban, who recently resigned after having their phones seized. Others in Adams’s orbit — including the former head of the Buildings Department and a former police inspector — have faced their own scandals and charges as well. 

Adams has denied breaking the law, saying in a Wednesday video statement, “I am innocent, and I will fight this with every ounce of my strength and spirit.” 

Adams’s indictment, made public on Thursday, involves five federal corruption charges. The charges make Adams the first ever sitting New York City mayor to be indicted, and will likely have a significant effect on the upcoming mayoral race in 2025, which he was expected to run in. 

First elected as mayor in 2021, Adams previously served as Brooklyn borough president, state senator, and a New York City police officer. He’s known for his aggressive push to increase policing and combat crime as mayor, as well as bombastic comments he’s made about migrants and kooky catchphrases about governance. Now, his tenure as a public servant could be approaching its end.

Below is a rundown of what we know about the indictment, and its implications. 

What are the charges against Eric Adams?

The charges center on Adams’s mayoral campaigns. They allege that he knowingly accepted illegal donations facilitated by a Turkish government official, and favors — like luxury plane tickets — as part of a quid pro quo relationship with the country. Together, they paint a picture of a foreign government official cultivating a prominent US politician over a period of years. The charges are: 

Conspiracy to commit wire fraud, solicit foreign contributions, and accept bribes (1 count): Adams is accused of setting up an illicit system to accept foreign donations as part of his mayoral campaigns, of accepting multiple plane tickets and luxury travel perks from a Turkish government official and Turkish businesspeople, and of helping a Turkish consulate building in New York City circumvent regulatory requirements in return. 

Wire fraud (1 count): Certain campaign donations in New York City can be matched with public funds to help encourage candidates to seek small-dollar donations. The indictment alleges that Adams fraudulently solicited matching funds for donations that he knew were from “straw donors,” or donors used to funnel money from another source. He’s accused of using straw donors in both his 2021 and 2025 campaigns, and of securing $10 million in public matching funds in this way.

Solicitation of a contribution by a foreign national (2 counts): US political candidates are barred from accepting donations from foreign citizens, something Adams is accused of knowingly doing by taking money from Turkish nationals. 

Bribery (1 count): This charge is also related to Adams’s alleged exchange of certain travel benefits, like expensive plane tickets, for relaxing the regulatory requirements faced by a new Turkish consulate building. The building had yet to pass a fire safety screening ahead of a visit by Turkey’s president, and Adams reportedly pressured a Fire Department official to obtain expedited approval. The perks he received are alleged to have been valued at around $100,000. 

Who else has been accused of corruption?

Nearly two dozen people are involved with open investigations and litigation concerning Adams and his allies, not all of them related to corruption. 

Those investigations include scrutiny of the campaign’s ties to six different foreign countries, as well as allegations of extortion and bribery allegations related to a consulting firm run by the sibling of Adams administration officials. Adams and one of his advisors also face allegations of sexual misconduct.

Thus far, two powerful people with links to Adams have also been indicted:

• Eric Ulrich, Adams’ former Building Department Commissioner has been charged with accepting $150,000 in bribes in exchange for favors like approving building inspections. 
• Dwayne Montgomery, a former deputy police inspector who served on the force at the same time as Adams, pleaded guilty to arranging for straw donors to give Adams’ 2021 campaign thousands of dollars.

Other officials, including the former Police Commissioner Caban, Schools Chancellor Banks, Deputy Mayor for Public Safety Philip Banks, and First Deputy Mayor Sheena Wright have yet to be charged, but have had their phones seized. Former Adams chief fundraiser Brianna Suggs, senior adviser Winnie Greco, Interim Police Commissioner Thomas Donlon, and an aide who’s on leave, Rana Abbasova, have also had their homes searched. 

Does Eric Adams have to step down? What happens if Adams doesn’t resign?

Adams does not have to step down because of the indictment, experts tell the news outlet The City. 

There are ways to potentially force his removal, however. New York Gov. Kathy Hochul has the ability to first suspend, then remove, him from the position, though it’s a power that the state executive has rarely used. 

New York City officials could also set up a panel known as an “inability committee” that then empowers a group of city councilmembers to vote on whether Adams is unable to do his job. If two-thirds agreed with that assessment, he’d be required to leave his post. 

If Adams leaves, Public Advocate Jumaane Williams would serve as acting mayor, and a special election for the job would have to be held within 80 days of Adams’s departure.

Who has called on Eric Adams to resign?

New York Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez is among the national lawmakers who have urged Adams to resign. She first did so ahead of his indictment, in light of the ongoing investigations into other members of his administration.

“Nonstop investigations will make it impossible to recruit and retain a qualified administration,” Ocasio-Cortez said in a statement on X, formerly known as Twitter. “For the good of the city, he should resign.”

Others who’ve joined in the chorus include multiple New York City Councilmembers like Tiffany Cabán, Lincoln Restler, and Chris Banks. 

Who is running for mayor in 2025?

Adams was scheduled to be up for re-election next year, though broad dissatisfaction with his tenure had prompted several others to join the fray. 

Even ahead of the indictment, the contest was slated to be a packed one that includes current City Comptroller Brad Lander, former Comptroller Scott Stringer, state Sen. Zellnor Myrie, and state Sen. Jessica Ramos. 

Adams is in the running as well, and is not required to step aside due to his indictment. However, he was not a popular figure before his recent legal troubles — and if he opts to stay in office, and in the race, he’s likely to find the contest to be a difficult one.