When New York City mayor Eric Adams was 15, he was arrested and beaten by a police officer – a traumatic event that inspired him to join the force, where he rose to become a captain before deciding to enter politics. It was “a powerful anecdote” that resonated with New Yorkers during Adams’ 2021 mayoral campaign, says The Economist .
Nearly four years on, “Hizzhoner” is mired in “dishonour” as the first-ever sitting New York mayor to be charged with a federal crime. Adams denies charges of “wire fraud, bribery and receiving illegal campaign contributions from foreign nationals”, and has vowed to remain in his post. But amidst “a rising chorus” of calls to resign from fellow Democrats, his tenure at City Hall looks precarious.
What is Eric Adams accused of?
Adams has been accused of accepting a decade’s worth of business-class flights and luxury hotel stays from wealthy Turkish businessmen, and at least one government official, without disclosing them – and then allegedly paying back the favours by “pressuring” New York’s fire chief to waive “a building inspection problem” for the local Turkish consulate. The indictment also claims he routed foreign donations through US citizens so the gifts would appear legal and tried to conceal the wrongdoing in a “clumsy cover-up”.