New York City’s embattled mayor Eric Adams has plead not guilty to charges that he accepted illegal campaign contributions and free overseas trips from people looking to buy his influence in city government.
Adams arrived at a federal courthouse Friday morning to appear before Magistrate Judge Katharine Parker. He gave a thumbs up but did not pause to speak to reporters as he headed into the Manhattan court, flanked by his own police security, the Associated Press reported.
Adams plead not guilty to all five counts against him, telling the judge: “I am not guilty, your honor. ”As soon as the arraignment ended Adams “stood up, buttoned his suit jacket, smiled tightly at the court officer, and left the courtroom, stone-faced,” the New York Times reported
Adams arrived at a federal courthouse Friday morning to appear before Magistrate Judge Katharine Parker. (
AFP via Getty Images)
Adams exited the courthouse and stood beside his attorney Alex Spiro, who briefly spoke to reporters. Spiro claimed this is not a real case again the mayor, but just an “airline upgrade” case.
Judge Parker ruled that Adams is to have no contact with any individual witness or others on a list to be provided by prosecutors concerning the “facts and circumstances” in the indictment, the Times reported. Adams will not be limited from communicating with them about “business or private family matters,” she said.
Adams was released on his own recognizance, with judge Parker warning the mayor that he had to return to court when required or he could face consequences, including jail time, according to the Times. Adams’ next hearing will take place next Wednesday before district judge Dale Ho.
Judge Ho can be expected to ask the government to summarize the discovery in the case and, if the case goes to trial, to estimate how long the trial might be, the Times reported. Spiro will have the opportunity to ask Judge Ho for an expedited trial. Spiro said today that at the upcoming hearing he will ask for the charges to be dismissed.
If convicted on all charges, Adams could face up to 45 years in prison, according to the US Attorney’s Office. The most serious charge is wire fraud, which comes with a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison, CNN reported.
Meantime, another official in Adams administration has surrendered cellphones, this time after arriving at a local airport and passing through customs, WNBC reported.
Ingrid Lewis-Martin, the mayor’s chief adviser, was returning from a vacation in Japan when she was approached by investigators at JFK Airport on Friday, according to three sources and her attorney.
After clearing customs, investigators from the Manhattan District Attorney’s Office served her with a warrant and seized her phones.
Upon leaving the airport, Lewis-Martin was approached again, this time by investigators from the Southern District of New York, who issued her a federal subpoena.
Additionally, investigators searched her home on Friday, with family members present during the search, sources confirmed.
An indictment unsealed Thursday accused the Adams of taking a variety of improper gifts from Turkish officials and businesspeople, including free hotel stays and deeply discounted airline tickets to destinations including France, China, Sri Lanka, India, Hungary, Ghana and Turkey.
In return, prosecutors said, Adams did favors for his patrons. That included helping Turkey get fire department approvals to open a new diplomatic tower in Manhattan, despite concerns about its fire safety system, prosecutors said.
Adams says he is innocent. His lawyer has said it was neither unusual nor improper for a government official to accept some travel perks. The mayor has denied ever knowingly accepting an illegal campaign contribution and said any help he gave people navigating city bureaucracy was just part of doing his job.
It was unclear how the mechanics of Adams’ trip through the courthouse might unfold. Many people charged with federal crimes are arrested at their homes early in the morning, booked, and then brought before a judge after spending hours or even days in detention. But that isn’t always the case and it didn’t happen with Adams.
The mayor tried to project a sense on his daily schedule that he’s continuing to go about the city’s business. He listed meetings at 8 a.m. and 8:30 a.m. with senior city officials and staff. He also planned afternoon meetings, starting with one at 3:30 p.m. with the Mayor’s Advisory Committee on the Judiciary, a committee that screens candidates for judicial appointments – a reminder that Adams even while under indictment retains all of his official powers, including the ability to appoint certain judges.
Adams faces conspiracy, wire fraud and bribery charges in a five-count indictment. In public remarks Thursday, Adams asked New Yorkers to avoid making any judgments until they heard his defense.
His lawyer, Spiro, told reporters the travel perks and seat upgrades Adams accepted were commonly offered to VIPs and members of Congress. “That’s what airlines do,” he said, noting that many of the charges relate to trips Adams took years ago when he was Brooklyn borough president.