New York City Mayor Eric Adams has been indicted, sources say

hmmm. didn't see this coming .. or did we??

BAAHHAAAAA


New York City Mayor Eric Adams has been indicted, sources say

https://www.yahoo.com/news/rep-ocasi...210801781.html


NEW YORK (AP) — New York City Mayor Eric Adams has been indicted by a grand jury on federal criminal charges, according to two people familiar with the matter.


The indictment detailing the charges against Adams, a Democrat, was still sealed late Wednesday, according to the people, who spoke with The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to discuss the matter publicly.


The U.S. attorney’s office in Manhattan declined to comment. The indictment was first reported by The New York Times.


“I always knew that If I stood my ground for New Yorkers that I would be a target — and a target I became,” Adams said in a statement that implied he hadn't been informed of the indictment. “If I am charged, I am innocent and I will fight this with every ounce of my strength and spirit.”


It was not immediately clear when the charges would be made public or when Adams might have to appear in court.


The indictment marks a stunning fall for Adams, a former police captain who won election nearly three years ago to become the second Black mayor of the nation’s largest city on a platform that promised a law-and-order approach to reducing crime.


For much of the last year, Adams has faced growing legal peril, with multiple federal investigations into top advisers producing a drumbeat of subpoenas, searches and high-level departures that has thrust City Hall into crisis.


He had repeatedly said he wasn’t aware of any wrongdoing and vowed as recently as Wednesday afternoon to stay in office.


Adams is the first mayor in New York City history to be indicted while in office. If he were to resign, he would be replaced by the city’s public advocate, Jumaane Williams, who would then schedule a special election.


Gov. Kathy Hochul has the power to remove Adams from office. Hochul’s office did not immediately return a request for comment Wednesday night.


Hours before the charges were announced, U.S. Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez called on Adams to resign, the first nationally prominent Democrat to do so. She cited the federal criminal investigations into the mayor’s administration and a string of unexpected departures of top city officials.


“I do not see how Mayor Adams can continue governing New York City,” Ocasio-Cortez wrote on the social platform X.


Adams reacted with scorn, dismissing Ocasio-Cortez as self-righteous.


The federal investigations into Adams administration first emerged publicly on Nov. 2, 2023, when FBI agents conducted an early morning raid on the Brooklyn home of Adams’ chief fundraiser, Brianna Suggs.


At the time, Adams insisted he followed the law and said he would be “shocked” if anyone on his campaign had acted illegally. “I cannot tell you how much I start the day with telling my team we’ve got to follow the law,” he told reporters at the time.


Days later, FBI agents seized the mayor’s phones and iPad as he was leaving an event in Manhattan. The interaction was disclosed several days later by the mayor’s attorney.


Then on Sept. 4, federal investigators seized electronic devices from the city’s police commissioner, schools chancellor, deputy mayor of public safety, first deputy mayor and other trusted confidantes of Adams both in and out of City Hall.


Federal prosecutors declined to discuss the investigations but people familiar with elements of the cases described multiple, separate inquiries involving senior Adams aides, relatives of those aides, campaign fundraising and possible influence peddling of the police and fire departments.


A week after the searches, Police Commissioner Edward Caban announced his resignation, telling officers that he didn’t want the investigations “to create a distraction.” About two weeks later, Schools Chancellor David Banks announced that he would retire at the end of the year.


Adams himself insisted he would keep doing the city’s business and allow the investigations to run their course.


Over the summer, federal prosecutors subpoenaed Adams, his campaign arm and City Hall, requesting information about the mayor’s schedule, his overseas travel and potential connections to the Turkish government.


Adams spent 22 years in New York City’s police department before going into politics, first as a state senator and then as Brooklyn borough president, a largely ceremonial position.


He was elected mayor in 2021, defeating a diverse field of Democrats in the primary and then easily beating Guardian Angels founder Curtis Sliwa, a Republican, in the general election.


After more than two years in office, Adams’ popularity has declined. While the city has seen an increase in jobs and a drop in certain categories of crime, the administration has been preoccupied with efforts to find housing for tens of thousands of international migrants who overwhelmed the city’s homeless shelters.


There has also been a steady drip of accusations and a swirl of suspicion around people close to the mayor.


The Manhattan District Attorney brought charges against six people – including a former police captain long close with Adams – over an alleged scheme to funnel tens of thousands of dollars to the mayor’s campaign by manipulating the public matching funds programs in the hopes of receiving preferential treatment from the city. Adams was not accused of wrongdoing in that case.


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 providing access to the mayor. Ulrich pleaded not guilty and is fighting the charges.


In February, federal investigators searched two properties owned by one of Adams’ close aides, Winnie Greco, who had raised thousands of dollars in campaign donations from the city’s Chinese American communities and later became his director of Asian affairs. Greco hasn’t commented publicly on the FBI searches of her properties and continues to work for 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 runs a nightlife consulting business.


Agents also took devices from the schools chancellor; his brother Philip Banks, formerly a top NYPD chief who is now deputy mayor for public safety; their brother Terence Banks, who ran a consulting firm that promised to connect businesses to government stakeholders; and from First Deputy Mayor Sheena Wright, who is David Banks’ domestic partner.


All denied any wrongdoing.


While those investigations swirled, federal authorities also searched the homes of newly named interim police commissioner, Thomas Donlan, and seized materials unrelated to his police work. Donlon confirmed the search and said it involved materials that had been in his possession for 20 years. He did not address what the investigation was about, but a person familiar with the investigation said it had to do with classified documents dating from the years when Donlon worked for the FBI. The person spoke with The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because they weren’t authorized to speak publicly about that investigation.

@Waco, this is probably one of your favorite posts. Having Adams and AOC fighting each other. I just have one bit of advice for Adams, he should try to hire some of Trumps lawyers (Not Rudy G. or Sydney Frankenstein Powell). Trump has more legal problems, yet his lawyers have been able to keep Trump out of jail so far.

@Waco, this is probably one of your favorite posts. Having Adams and AOC fighting each other. I just have one bit of advice for Adams, he should try to hire some of Trumps lawyers (Not Rudy G. or Sydney Frankenstein Powell). Trump has more legal problems, yet his lawyers have been able to keep Trump out of jail so far. Originally Posted by adav8s28

His lawyers have done a great job but a friendly judge, ie judge cannon, and a packed Supreme court have kept him out of jail.

Who knows whether there's basis to this or not. But it's doubtful Adams will get a fair trial. New York City courts will put you in jail at the drop of a hat. You boink a porn star and cover it up, you go to jail. You make representations to your bank that it never relied upon, they fine you $500 million. Some woman claims you tried to boink her 30 years ago, they award her $100 million. Crazy place!

He is a Democrat though so that will help him.

Well, I'll just say that Mr. Adams is probably fucked if they arrest a mayor.

Sincerely,

Marion Barry

Well, I'll just say that Mr. Adams is probably fucked if they arrest a mayor.

Sincerely,

Marion Barry Originally Posted by Lucas McCain

well said rifleman .. well said!!


bahahahahahaaaa

Well, I'll just say that Mr. Adams is probably fucked if they arrest a mayor.

Sincerely,

Marion Barry Originally Posted by Lucas McCain

.... Hmmmm... until Mr. Adams pays his debt to society.
And THEN decides to run again.

He'll prolly WIN re-election in a "New York" minute!

#### Salty

^^^ NYC is not a forgiving city. When you are shamed, you are done. Rightfully or wrongfully, that man's political career is now dead there and I post that confidently without even knowing the specifics of what he is accused of.

Edit: Unless you are John Gotti of course. It is still blasphemy to shame him. That man is still revered there. Expensive pinky rings will always be in high demand there because of him. Haha

^^^ NYC is not a forgiving city. When you are shamed, you are done. Originally Posted by Lucas McCain

... Could be, mate... Though DC surely looks forgiving.
Maybe ol' Adams aint done yet.

#### Salty

the ethnic culture has a lot of built in corruption. not at all surprising.

say dogg, could you..

the ethnic culture has a lot of built in corruption. not at all surprising.

say dogg, could you.. Originally Posted by pxmcc

I would not put corruption on his ethnicity because the only color that is relevant to many politicians is green regardless of their race. Obviously, ambition and grandiosity often play a large role as well regardless of race if one chooses to be a corrupt motherfucker as a "public servant".

Corruption should be rooted out and punished. Period. No exception.

Adam’s is fucked.

But then I suppose there are some corrupt people on both sides. On both sidea.

Unfortunately, just repeatedly screaming that one politician or another is corrupt sans proof or evidence seems to get the cicadas chirping. As we’ve seen in our own little community.

That said, Adams is fucked. And if true, deservedly so.