NEW YORK — New York City Mayor Eric Adams has been indicted by a grand jury on federal criminal charges, according to two individuals familiar with the situation.
The details of the indictment, which is still sealed, were confirmed late Wednesday by sources who spoke to The Associated Press on the condition of anonymity due to the sensitive nature of the case. The U.S. attorney’s office in Manhattan declined to comment.
In a statement, Adams, a Democrat, suggested he had not been informed of the indictment, saying, “I always knew that if I stood my ground for New Yorkers, I would be a target — and a target I became. If I am charged, I am innocent and I will fight this with every ounce of my strength and spirit.”
It remains unclear when the charges will be publicly disclosed or when Adams will need to appear in court.
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This indictment represents a significant downfall for Adams, a former police captain who was elected nearly three years ago as the second Black mayor of the nation’s largest city, campaigning on a platform emphasizing law and order to combat crime.
In recent months, Adams has been under increasing legal scrutiny, with various federal investigations involving top aides resulting in a wave of subpoenas, searches, and notable departures from his administration that have thrown City Hall into turmoil.
He has consistently maintained that he was unaware of any wrongdoing and pledged, just hours before the indictment was announced, to continue his duties as mayor.
Adams is the first sitting mayor in New York City to face an indictment. Should he resign, the city’s public advocate, Jumaane Williams, would take over and organize a special election.
Governor Kathy Hochul has the authority to remove Adams from office, but her office has not yet responded to requests for comment.
Hours prior to the indictment, U.S. Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez called for Adams’ resignation, marking the first prominent Democrat to do so. She cited the federal investigations into his administration and the unexpected departures of several top officials.
“I do not see how Mayor Adams can continue governing New York City,” Ocasio-Cortez wrote on the social media platform X.
Adams dismissed her comments, labeling her as self-righteous.
The federal investigations into Adams’ administration became public on November 2, 2023, following an FBI raid at the Brooklyn home of his chief fundraiser, Brianna Suggs. At that time, Adams insisted he had adhered to the law and would be “shocked” if anyone on his campaign had acted illegally. He stated, “I cannot tell you how much I start the day with telling my team we’ve got to follow the law.”
Shortly after, FBI agents seized the mayor’s phones and iPad as he left a Manhattan event, an incident revealed by his attorney days later.
On September 4, federal agents took electronic devices from the city’s police commissioner, schools chancellor, deputy mayor of public safety, first deputy mayor, and other trusted associates of Adams both inside and outside City Hall.
While federal prosecutors have refrained from discussing the ongoing investigations, sources familiar with the cases have indicated multiple inquiries involving senior aides to Adams, their relatives, campaign fundraising, and potential influence peddling related to the police and fire departments.
A week after the searches, Police Commissioner Edward Caban announced his resignation, stating he didn’t want the investigations to “create a distraction.” About two weeks later, Schools Chancellor David Banks declared his intention to retire at the year’s end.
Despite the turmoil, Adams maintained he would continue to manage city affairs and allow the investigations to proceed without interference.
Over the summer, federal prosecutors issued subpoenas to Adams, his campaign organization, and City Hall, seeking information about the mayor’s schedule, overseas travel, and potential ties to the Turkish government.
Adams has a lengthy career in New York City’s police department, serving 22 years before entering politics, first as a state senator and then as Brooklyn borough president, a largely ceremonial role. He was elected mayor in 2021 after defeating a diverse group of Democrats in the primary and easily overcoming Republican Curtis Sliwa in the general election.
After more than two years in office, Adams’ approval ratings have declined. While the city has seen job growth and decreases in certain crime categories, his administration has been preoccupied with addressing housing for the tens of thousands of international migrants overwhelming the city’s homeless shelters.
Accusations and suspicions surrounding individuals close to the mayor have persisted. The Manhattan District Attorney has charged six people, including a former police captain closely associated with Adams, over an alleged scheme to funnel tens of thousands of dollars to the mayor’s campaign by manipulating public matching funds programs in hopes of receiving preferential treatment from the city. Adams has not been implicated in that case.
Additionally, Adams’ former top building-safety official, Eric Ulrich, was charged last year with accepting $150,000 in bribes and improper gifts in exchange for political favors, including access to the mayor. Ulrich has pleaded not guilty and is contesting the charges.
In February, federal investigators searched two properties owned by one of Adams’ close aides, Winnie Greco, who had garnered significant campaign donations from the city’s Chinese American communities and later became his director of Asian affairs. Greco has not publicly commented on the FBI searches of her properties and remains employed by the city.
When agents seized electronic devices from Caban, the former police commissioner, in early September, they also visited his twin brother, James Caban, a former police officer who now runs a nightlife consulting business. Agents took devices from the schools chancellor and other key individuals, all of whom have denied any wrongdoing.
During this tumultuous time, federal authorities also searched the homes of newly appointed interim police commissioner, Thomas Donlan, confiscating materials unrelated to his police work. Donlan confirmed the search and noted it involved items that had been in his possession for two decades. While he did not disclose specifics regarding the investigation, a source familiar with the matter indicated it pertains to classified documents from Donlan’s time at the FBI. The source spoke to The Associated Press on the condition of anonymity as they were not authorized to discuss the investigation publicly.
