NYC Mayor Eric Adams indicted by grand jury, charges to be unsealed Thursday

New York City's Democratic Mayor Eric Adams was indicted by a grand jury on Wednesday night.

The charges remain unclear, and the indictment is set to be unsealed Thursday morning. 

The indictment comes amid a federal investigation into allegations that Adams, a former New York City Police Department chief, accepted illegal campaign donations from the Turkish government. 

Federal agents on Thursday morning went to the mayor's official residence, Gracie Mansion, and seized his phone, according to news reports.

The investigation became public knowlege when FBI first seized Adams phone  and an iPad in November 2023 at a public event.

Adams has called indictment "entirely false."

The FBI has also expanded its investigation to include five other countries, but the details and names of those countries have not been released so far.

Four officials within Adams' administration have also resigned recently, amid a handful of investigations into Adams and senior members of his staff.

Adams was elected to his first term in 2021, and is seeking reelection in 2025. 

The mayor ran on a tough-on-crime agenda for his first term, and claimed he has witnessed both the good side and bad side of police officers after growing up as a black kid in New York City.

The mayor first joined the NYPD in the 1980s as an advocate for changing the department from within, and founded the "100 Blacks in Law Enforcement Who Care" advocacy group. He eventually rose to the rank of captain in the NYPD.

The indictment is expected to fuel calls for the mayor to resign, and comes after Rep. Alexandria Ocasio Cortez called for Adams' resignation earlier Wednesday.

"I do not see how Mayor Adams can continue governing New York City. The flood of resignations and vacancies are threatening gov function," the congresswoman posted to X at the time. "Nonstop investigations will make it impossible to recruit and retain a qualified administration."

City hall has not released a public statement on the reports so far, but Adams told the New York Times that he knew he would become a "target," but maintained his innocence.

“I always knew that If I stood my ground for New Yorkers that I would be a target—and a target I became," he said in a statement, per the Times. "If I am charged, I am innocent and I will fight this with every ounce of my strength and spirit.”

Adams has rejected calls for his resignation in recent weeks over the flood of resignations and investigations into his staff. But should he resign over his own indictment, Public Advocate Jumaane William would take over the post as interim mayor until a special election is held.

Misty Severi is an evening news reporter for Just The News. You can follow her on X for more coverage.