New York City Mayor Eric Adams has been indicted by a grand jury on federal criminal charges, according to sources familiar with the matter. The indictment against Adams, a Democrat, remained sealed as of late Wednesday, said individuals who spoke on the condition of anonymity because they were not permitted to discuss the case publicly.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office in Manhattan has refrained from commenting on the indictment, which was initially reported by The New York Times.
In a statement, Adams said, “I always knew that If I stood my ground for New Yorkers that 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,” implying he had not been informed of the charges.
There has been no clear indication of when the charges will be disclosed or when Adams might need to appear in court.
This indictment represents a significant setback for Adams, formerly a police captain who was elected nearly three years ago as the second Black mayor of New York City on a platform emphasizing a law-and-order approach to crime reduction.
Over the past year, Adams has faced increasing legal challenges, with multiple federal investigations into his top advisers leading to numerous subpoenas, searches, and high-level resignations, creating turmoil within City Hall. Despite these developments, Adams has consistently claimed ignorance of any wrongdoing and recently stated his intention to remain in office.
Adams is the first sitting mayor in New York City’s history to be indicted. Should he resign, the city’s public advocate, Jumaane Williams, would assume the mayoral responsibilities and schedule a special election. Governor Kathy Hochul has the authority to remove Adams from office, but her office did not immediately respond to requests for comment on Wednesday night.
U.S. Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, the first nationally prominent Democrat to do so, called for Adams’ resignation shortly before the charges were revealed, citing the federal investigations and unexpected departures among senior city officials. Adams dismissed Ocasio-Cortez’s call as self-righteous.
The federal investigations into Adams’ administration became public on November 2, 2023, when FBI agents raided the Brooklyn home of Adams’ chief fundraiser, Brianna Suggs. Adams maintained that he had acted lawfully and would be “shocked” if any campaign member had acted illegally.
In subsequent incidents, FBI agents seized Adams’ phones and iPad and later took electronic devices from several senior officials, including the city’s police commissioner and schools chancellor. The details of these investigations have been scarce, but sources have described multiple inquiries involving senior aides, campaign fundraising, and potential influence over city departments.
Following these events, Police Commissioner Edward Caban resigned to avoid distracting from the investigations, and Schools Chancellor David Banks announced his retirement.
Despite these challenges, Adams emphasized his commitment to city governance and allowing the investigations to proceed without interference.
Adams was elected mayor in 2021 after serving 22 years with the New York City Police Department, and he has held positions as a state senator and Brooklyn borough president. His administration has faced numerous challenges, including managing housing for thousands of international migrants and dealing with accusations against individuals close to him.
Notably, the Manhattan District Attorney charged six individuals, including a former police captain associated with Adams, with attempting to funnel campaign funds for preferential treatment; Adams was not implicated in this case.
Federal authorities have also investigated properties owned by Winnie Greco, a close aide and campaign fundraiser, and seized devices from the former police commissioner and his brother. All involved denied any wrongdoing.
Furthermore, federal investigators searched the homes of newly appointed interim police commissioner Thomas Donlan, relating to classified documents dating back to his tenure with the FBI, according to sources familiar with the investigation.