A free access invitation to the Editor’s Digest was extended, as Editor Roula Khalaf selected her favorite stories for a weekly newsletter. In other news, New York City Mayor Eric Adams has been indicted by federal prosecutors following a lengthy corruption investigation that has implicated City Hall, leading to numerous resignations and retirements among high-ranking members of the Democratic administration.
The charges against Mayor Adams, 64, are set to be disclosed by the Southern District of New York attorney’s office on Thursday, as reported by several US media outlets. This would mark the first time a sitting New York mayor has been indicted.
Mayor Adams, in his statement, asserted, “I always knew that if I stood my ground for New Yorkers that I would be a target — and a target I became.” The former police officer, elected in 2021 on a platform of being tough on crime, further declared, “If I am charged, I am innocent, and I will fight this with every ounce of my strength and spirit.”
Adams, a centrist Democrat and former Brooklyn borough president, campaigned on law-and-order promises and a commitment to address homelessness in New York. His tenure has been plagued by allegations of cronyism and increasing criticism over his administration’s handling of migrants transported from the southern border. Additionally, Adams has been under scrutiny for a corruption probe relating to his 2021 election campaign.
In a notable incident last year, agents raided the Brooklyn residence of Brianna Suggs, Adams’ chief campaign fundraiser, reportedly as part of an investigation into donations from the Turkish state. Subsequently, the FBI seized Adams’ phone and laptop during a street encounter. Other raids followed, some reportedly unrelated to the campaign investigation, targeting key officials, including the first deputy mayor and deputy mayor for public safety.
Recent developments saw New York Police Commissioner Edward Caban resign, citing that the ongoing noise around recent events rendered his position untenable. Investigators had also searched the home of Caban’s interim replacement. City Hall faced further upheaval with the resignation of a senior lawyer and the unexpected departure of David Banks, responsible for New York’s public school system, whose phones were also seized.
Throughout the investigations, Adams has maintained he has “nothing to hide” and has been cooperative, while several prominent Democrats have urged him to resign. New York Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez expressed her belief that Adams could no longer govern effectively, a sentiment echoed by City Comptroller Brad Lander, who is also a mayoral candidate, calling for Adams’ resignation.
On Wednesday evening, Mayor Adams was seen attending a reception hosted by President Joe Biden at the Metropolitan Museum of Art. A spokesperson for the US attorney’s office for the Southern District of New York did not respond to a request for comment.