Is the Eric Adams Indictment Politically Motivated?

By Jeff Charles

Mayor Adams Faces Federal Indictment

New York City Mayor Eric Adams could be in a heap of trouble now that he is facing a federal indictment. Or, perhaps not, depending on who you ask. Adams is facing a series of corruption charges recently announced by the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York. At first glance, it seems like a standard run-of-the-mill prosecution of a corrupt politician. But given his constant public criticism of the Biden administration over the border crisis, some have wondered if there is more to this development.

While the prosecution effort against Adams might seem straightforward, there is a political dimension worth exploring. Adams has been a vocal critic of the Biden administration over its handling of the border crisis, which has placed great strain on major cities and border towns.

New York City Immigration Crisis

In April 2023, Adams said New York City is being “destroyed” by the White House’s failure to deal with the influx of migrants coming to the southern border and being transported to the Big Apple. “The national government has turned its back on New York City,” he said while addressing reporters at City Hall. “This is in the lap of the president of the United States.”

After meeting with President Joe Biden in December 2023 about the impact of the migrant crisis on New York City, Adams told reporters that “Help is not on the way.”

Most recently, Adams indicated that he believes the indictment is a form of retaliation for his public criticism of the Biden administration, saying he has “been fighting injustice my entire life” during a video address on September 26.

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.

Former President Donald Trump predicted that Adams would face legal repercussions a year ago. Trump recently recalled,

I remember NYC Mayor Eric Adams, a year ago, criticizing the federal government for the migrant crisis, and I said, ‘Within a year, he’d be indicted.’ And I was right. That’s what happened. And I noticed the indictment is very old, I have the same thing. I wish him well.

Immigration is a top issue for American voters. The border crisis has affected many major cities and border towns that have struggled to keep up with the constant stream of migrants.

Trump is perceived as being better on immigration than Harris. A recent Elon University poll showed that 53 percent of respondents believe the former president “Is more likely to solve difficult issues related to immigration and border security.” Only 37 percent said the same for the vice president.

Pew Research found that 61 percent of voters view immigration as a top issue for the upcoming election.

It is clear Democrats know that the immigration issue isn’t working in their favor, which means that when a fellow Democrat lashes out at the Biden-Harris administration, it could cause more problems. Given that Democrats are in control of the executive branch, which includes the Justice Department, this indictment could not only be intended to punish Adams but also to send a message to others who might break ranks over immigration or another issue.

Indictment Allegations

The indictment details numerous allegations against the mayor, including receiving improper benefits, accepting illegal campaign contributions from foreign nationals, defrauding New York City’s public matching funds program, and participating in quid pro quo dealings with foreign officials.

One of the primary allegations against Adams involves his alleged acceptance of improper benefits from foreign nationals. These include luxury international travel, free hotel accommodation, and high-end entertainment.

“Adams solicited and knowingly accepted free and heavily discounted luxury air travel from the Turkish Airline, as part of the Turkish Official’s efforts to gain influence over Adams,” according to the indictment, which also noted that the mayor allegedly stayed in a suite that normally would have cost about $7,000. He paid $600, according to prosecutors.

Adams is also accused of soliciting and accepting illegal campaign contributions for his 2021 mayoral campaign from foreign nationals who are prohibited from donating to U.S. political campaigns.

The contributions were allegedly funneled through straw donors to evade detection. The indictment highlights text message exchanges between members of Adams’ staff and a Turkish promoter where the promoter explained, “Fund Raising in Turkey is not legal, but I think I can raise money for your campaign off the record.” 

Prosecutors also allege that the mayor defrauded the city’s public matching funds program, designed to provide taxpayer funds to candidates based on small-dollar donations from residents. They claim Adams received over $10 million in matching funds through deceptive means.

“Adams’s campaigns applied for matching funds based on known straw donations, fraudulently obtaining as much as $2,000 in public funds for each illegal contribution,” the indictment reads.

The quid pro quo allegations indicate that Adams treated Turkish officials favorably in exchange for bribes. He is accused of pressuring the fire department to fast-track the opening of a new Turkish consulate building despite safety concerns.

In a direct message to the mayor, a Turkish official allegedly said “it was his turn to repay” by facilitating the consulate’s opening.

“Because of Adam’s pressure on the FDNY, the FDNY official responsible for the FDNY’s assessment of the skyscraper’s fire safety was told that he would lose his job if he failed to acquiesce,” according to the Justice Department.

The last charge involves Adams’ alleged efforts to conceal his illicit activities. He is accused of deleting incriminating messages and directing his staff to create fake paper trails to give the appearance that he had paid for benefits he had received for free.

In one email, Adams allegedly instructed his staff to falsify payments for flights that were never made. The indictment states,

Adams created and instructed others to create fake paper trails, falsely suggesting that he had paid, or planned to pay, for travel benefits that were actually free.

Reaction to the Indictment

Opinions on the indictment are mixed. Rana Abbasova, Adams’ liaison to the Turkish community, is believed to have established the relationship. She began cooperating with the authorities after the FBI searched her home. However, some suggested that if the prosecution is relying solely on her testimony, it could be problematic. Former Manhattan chief assistant district attorney Karen Friedman Agnifilo told The New York Times that “If it all comes down to a ‘he said, she said,” the DOJ’s case “is a little dicey.”

When it comes to the alleged pressuring of the fire department, Adams’ defense could rely on limitations the Supreme Court imposed on “official acts,” arguing that he was not yet in office when he contacted the fire department. 

“They’ll argue he wasn’t mayor, or even mayor-elect when he contacted the Fire Commissioner regarding the Turkish consulate and wasn’t directing the Fire Commissioner regarding projects in Manhattan,” former federal prosecutor Mark D. Chutkow told The Times. “But rather was gathering information on what could be done regarding the Consulate to ‘manage expectations’ of the Turkish officials.”

On the other hand, the Justice Department could also add more charges.

One of the things that government counts on an initial indictment doing is shaking loose a whole lot of information from people who now will rightfully start to be concerned that they’ll be in the government’s sights,

said Daniel C. Richman, a Columbia Law School professor who also worked as a federal prosecutor.

Democrats’ Ongoing Problem with Immigration

Since the spring of 2022, the city has experienced an influx of over 210,000 asylum seekers and illegal immigrants, straining its resources and shelter system. Most of the arrivals are from Latin America, especially Venezuela. But many have also come from Africa and Asia.

The city has opened over 200 emergency shelters, including hotels and tent dormitories, to accommodate the steady stream of migrants. The situation has pushed the city’s homeless shelter population to record levels. Adams indicated the crisis could cost the city up to $10 billion over three years, according to The New York Times.

Of course, the indictment against Adams may be completely devoid of political motivation. Some might point out that other politicians like Texas Gov. Greg Abbott and Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis have also criticized Biden over the migrant crisis. So far, none of them have been indicted.

However, these governors are Republicans, who are expected to oppose the Biden administration over immigration and other matters. Adams is a Democrat, which means he is expected to fall in line. When a member of a particular party criticizes officials of the same party, it could raise more eyebrows and indicate that the criticism is valid. During an election year, it could cause even more problems for Democrats as they seek to get their presidential candidate elected.

While the charges against Mayor Adams appear severe, one cannot help but notice the political overtones that color this situation. In an era where weaponization of the justice system is a concern on both the left and the right, Adams’ vocal criticism of the Biden administration makes one question whether politics is playing a role in this indictment. As this case unfolds, it will be crucial to assess whether this is a genuine corruption case or just another example of political retribution.