NYC Mayor Eric Adams vows to fight charges, won't resign as prosecutors unveil 57-page indictment

A defiant New York City Mayor Eric Adams vowed to fight the charges he faces as prosecutors outlined a 57-page indictment on Thursday.

The charges against Adams mark the first time a sitting NYC mayor has been indicted.

At a news conference on Thursday, Adams argued that it appears the federal prosecutors want to try the case against him "in public" rather than in the judicial system.

Adams told reporters the media saw the indictment before his legal team.

The charges stem from contributions to Adams' 2021 mayoral campaign from "wealthy foreign businesspeople and at least one Turkish government official seeking to gain influence over him,” according to the indictment. 

The charges include federal program bribery, receiving campaign contributions by foreign nationals; one count of wire fraud; two counts of solicitation of a contribution by a foreign national; one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud, and one count of bribery.

Adams reiterated that he is innocent and his lawyers will prove his case.

“From here, my attorneys will take care of the case so I can take care of the city,” he said at news conference outside Gracie Mansion. “It’s an unfortunate day. And its a painful day. But inside all of that is a day when we will finally reveal why, for 10 months, I’ve gone through this. And I look forward to defending myself,” he said.

Protesters heckled Adams during his presser, repeatedly calling him an "embarrassment" and a "corrupt mayor."

After Adams' news conference concluded, federal prosecutors held their own press briefing to formally lay out the charges.

"Adams' solicitation of illegal campaign contributions began in 2018 after he started raising funds for his 2021 mayoral campaign. He agreed to take contributions offered by multiple Turkish businessmen, several of whom he met in Turkey," said one of the prosecutors. 

"Adams knew that these wealthy individuals could not legally donate in a U.S. election. Federal law clearly prohibits foreign donations. That's how we protect our elections from foreign influence," they added.

Adams said on Thursday he hasn't accept any money from foreign donors.

"I follow campaign laws," he said. "We do not participate in straw donors. We do not participate in foreign donors."

Hazel Duke, president of the NAACP New York State Conference, said she stands by Adams and does not think he should resign.

"I support him," she said.

Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, D-N.Y., is among the public officials who have called for Adams to resign.

"I do not see how Mayor Adams can continue governing New York City," she wrote on X. "The flood of resignations and vacancies are threatening gov function. Nonstop investigations will make it impossible to recruit and retain a qualified administration. For the good of the city, he should resign."