Eric Adams has become the first sitting mayor of the Big Apple to be indicted. On Wednesday, September 25, a grand jury determined that charges connected to a federal probe will go forward, though the exact charges will likely not be unveiled until later today. The investigation concerns the mayor’s connections to the Turkish government and accusations that money was illegally funneled to his campaign. Adam’s made clear that he believes the only reason he is facing legal challenges is because he broke ranks on New York City’s mounting migrant crisis.
Adams Makes His Case
In a video released yesterday evening, Adams said he would not be stepping down and that he would “fight these injustices with every ounce of my strength and spirit.”
“I will request an immediate trial so that New Yorkers can hear the truth. New Yorkers know my story. They know where I come from. I have been fighting injustice my entire life,” he continued. He then explained why he thought he was being targeted, saying:
“That fight has continued as your mayor. Despite our pleas, when the federal government did nothing as its broken immigration policies overloaded our shelter system with no relief, I put the people of New York before party and politics.”
With more than a quarter of a million migrants flooding into NYC since 2022, Adams has been critical of the Biden-Harris administration, declaring in 2023 that “The national government has turned its back on New York City.” While he may have a point that large cities have been left to deal with the border influx without significant government assistance, the roots of the federal investigation seem to predate the current crisis.
Distraction Tactics?
Adams’ 2021 campaign has been the subject of subpoenas demanding records of interactions with foreign entities, specifically Turkey. In July this year, sources told the New York Post that communications had been requested regarding messages with “Israel, China, Qatar, South Korea and Uzbekistan.”
In the long run-up to this indictment, the home of the top fundraiser for the Adams campaign, Brianna Suggs, was raided by the FBI. Politico reports that electronic devices were seized as part of an investigation into fundraising activities. Unusually, Ms. Suggs was paid a commission for her cash-raising efforts.
A string of resignations preceded the indictment, including:
New York City Health Commissioner Ashwin Vasan – Resigned September 23
Lisa Zornberg, City Hall Chief Counsel – Resigned September 14
New York City Police Commissioner Edward Caban – Resigned on September 12 after federal investigators seized his phone as part of the Adams investigation.
While Mayor Adams may be out of favor with his Democrat colleagues over his stance on the migrant crisis, early reporting – and the length of the investigation – that his indictment is not connected.
What Do They Know?
It is common for politicians to back people in their party when indictments and subpoenas start flying. However, with Mayor Adams, calls for his resignation came suspiciously early, perhaps leaving some to wonder whether his colleagues knew what was coming.
Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez of New York is currently the highest-ranking Democrat to call for Admas to step aside. “I do not see how Mayor Adams can continue governing New York City… The flood of resignations and vacancies are threatening gov function. Nonstop investigations will make it impossible to recruit and retain a qualified administration,” she wrote on X. Other Empire State politicians were quick to join the parade.
The New York Post is keeping a tally, and as of this morning, “members of the City Council have demanded he resign, including Tiffany Caban (D-Queens), Alexa Aviles (D-Brooklyn), Shekar Krishnan (D-Queens), Lincoln Restler (D-Brooklyn), Chris Banks (D-Brooklyn) and Bob Holden (D-Queens).” And then there are the New York State Assembly members who have also decided to ditch Hizzoner; these include “Phara Souffrant Forrest (D-Brooklyn), Emily Gallagher (D-Brooklyn), Danny O’Connel (D-Manhattan), Jessica González-Rojas (D-Queens), Tony Simone (D-Manhattan), Linda Rosenthal (D-Manhattan) and mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani (D-Queens).”
Echoes of History
New York City corruption has a long and storied tradition dating back to at least the 1850s under William Tweed’s Tammany Hall bribery efforts. And while Mayor Adams is the first “sitting” mayor to be indicted, a number of his predecessors have been enmeshed in criminal dealings and investigations.
The fallout of the soon-to-be-released indictment could have ramifications beyond the career of Eric Adams: it reveals potential corruption at the heart of the Democratic Party. A once-respected hero of the left claims his party leadership is out to destroy him because he opposes their disastrous immigration policies, and, of course, the media is now forced to turn its attention away from Donald Trump’s court saga. All this comes just weeks ahead of the most significant presidential election in recent history.
It's not quite an October Surprise, but for Republicans hoping to leverage the cracks in an otherwise solid Democrat wall, it’s a Christmas gift come early.
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