NYC Mayor Eric Adams Fights Back Against Bribery Charges: Attorney Calls Prosecutors 'Zealous'

NYC Mayor Eric Adams Fights Back Against Bribery Charges: Attorney Calls Prosecutors 'Zealous'

New York City Mayor Eric Adams is facing a bribery charge, accused of accepting over $100,000 in airline upgrades and luxury hotel stays from Turkey. Prosecutors allege that in 2021, after a Turkish official told Adams it was "his turn," he pressured the New York City Fire Department to expedite a safety inspection of the new Turkish consulate in Manhattan.

Adams' attorney, Alex Spiro, argues that the bribery charge is "extraordinarily vague" and that the prosecution's case is weak. Spiro insists that the alleged actions do not meet the definition of bribery, as the indictment doesn't state that Adams agreed to perform any official act in exchange for the perks.

Spiro highlights the fact that the alleged actions took place while Adams was Brooklyn Borough President, not Mayor, and that he had no authority over the consulate building. He claims that the messages Adams sent to the Fire Commissioner were "innocuous" and fall short of the necessary official act for a bribery charge.

The defense claims that the alleged actions were routine and not criminal, and that the prosecution is seeking to "cast about" for a case against Adams.

Adams pleaded not guilty to all five charges and is due back in court on Wednesday. He is expected to fight the accusations and has stated that he will not resign.

<img alt="New York City Mayor Eric Adams sits in federal court beside his lawyer Alex Spiro after he was charged with bribery and illegally soliciting a campaign contribution from a foreign national, on Sept. 27, 2024 in this courtroom sketch." src="https://i.abcnewsfe.com/a/4b06d8f4-f768-4fbf-b66d-bf1c544e6e96/adams-embed_1727691881998_hpEmbed_4x3.jpg"> <img alt="New York City Mayor Eric Adams looks on outside federal court, on the day of his arraignment, on Sept. 27, 2024." src="https://i.abcnewsfe.com/a/34917588-b5e5-4c7a-849d-8e79867b1132/adams-main_1727691879678_hpMain.jpg">