Mayor Adams indicted on federal charges, lawyer- Prosecutors misunderstood the law

In an exclusive interview, we discussed the ongoing legal challenges faced by New York City Mayor Eric Adams, who has recently been indicted by federal prosecutors on multiple charges, including bribery conspiracy, fraud, and soliciting illegal foreign campaign donations. According to Adams’ attorney, Alex Spiro, the prosecution’s understanding of the law is flawed and relies on what he characterized as a “makeshift bribery theory.” Spiro is urging the court to dismiss the case.

The indictment alleges that over the past decade, Adams accepted improper benefits from the Turkish government valued at over $100,000, which reportedly included first-class airfare and luxury hotel accommodations. Furthermore, it is claimed that he raised $10 million in public matching funds through illicit contributions, subsequently assisting the Turkish consulate in expediting fire safety inspections as a form of reciprocal reward. Adams has denied all accusations and has rejected calls for his resignation.

Spiro argued that Adams is accused of exerting pressure on the fire department to expedite the opening of the consulate building after receiving over $123,000 in discounted or complimentary travel benefits, yet he maintains that the government has failed to prove any legal violations. In a 16-page motion, Spiro wrote, “Besides typical communications between officials regarding an important matter—namely, the visit of a president from a country with a population exceeding 80 million—the government has presented no factual basis.”

He emphasized that if the charges against Adams hold, then “the prosecutors could bypass the constitutional limitations imposed by the Supreme Court on bribery laws by framing routine interactions as ‘pressure.'” Prior to this, federal prosecutors dismissed Adams’ assertion that the luxury gifts he received from Turkish diplomats and businessmen were simply “routine” benefits for politicians. Nevertheless, Adams’ legal team continues to seek the dismissal of the “soliciting and accepting bribes” charge, which is one of five counts against him.

The judge has scheduled a hearing for November 1, where both sides will debate the bribery allegations. Furthermore, Adams’ attorneys are urging the judge to hold a hearing to probe whether federal prosecutors violated grand jury secrecy by leaking information about the investigation to the media. Spiro pointed out that media coverage prior to the indictment showed a clear pattern indicating “law enforcement was the source of the information.”

Despite these claims, federal prosecutors have countered that Adams has provided no evidence proving that the prosecutorial team bears responsibility for any investigative details reported by the media. On November 1, both sides may also engage in oral arguments regarding the alleged leaks. At 64 years old, Adams has pled not guilty to all allegations and vows to continue fulfilling his duties as mayor during the ongoing legal proceedings.