EDITOR’S NOTE (Nick Stamatakis). Almost eleven months ago, when the news first broke about the FBI investigation of Eric Adams, Helleniscope pointed out instantaneously the ramifications his investigation may have for other “Friends of Turkey” in America, top among them the leadership of the GOARCH (link here). Now that Eric Adams is indicted, what should we expect?
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Mayor Eric Adams surrenders after feds accused him of accepting $123K in luxury gifts, fraudulently obtaining $10M in public funds
Hizzoner — who is the first sitting New York City mayor to be indicted — was scheduled to make an initial appearance at the Manhattan federal courthouse at noon on charges he took bribes and illegal campaign contributions from foreign nationals in exchange for favors.
He is expected to plead not guilty.
A stony-faced Adams gave a thumbs-up but didn’t speak as he emerged from his motorcade and headed into the courthouse just before 9 a.m.
As is the case with any defendant, Adams was being fingerprinted and interviewed by court officials ahead of the hearing.
He will also have his mugshot taken prior to the arraignment.
The extraordinary five-count indictment unsealed Thursday accused the under-fire Democrat of taking a slew of improper gifts from Turkish officials and businesspeople — including $123,000 in free hotel stays and free, or deeply discounted, flights.
He also fraudulently obtained $10 million in public campaign funds, federal prosecutors allege.
In exchange, Adams did favors for his patrons — including pressuring Big Apple officials to waive fire inspections and push through approval for the sprawling Turkish Consulate in Manhattan, according to the indictment.
His surrender came after his lawyer, Alex Spiro, had asked the court to delay his arraignment until at least Monday — mainly to reduce the number of times the mayor would have to travel to the courthouse in Lower Manhattan.
A judge didn’t immediately respond to the request.
The mayor, who is facing conspiracy, wire fraud and bribery charges over the alleged scheme that allegedly dates back to his time as Brooklyn borough president — a title he held from 2013 to 2021 — has insisted he is innocent.
Adams on Thursday said he has no plans to resign and will fight the charges.
| Year | Destination | Benefits | Value | Disclosed? |
| 2016 | India (via Turkey) | Free upgrade to business class for two on round-trip flight from New York to India | $12,000 | No |
| 2017 | France, Turkey, and China | Free business class tickets for three on round trip from New York to France, Turkey, and China; heavily discounted stay in Bentley Suite of St. Regis Istanbul | $41,000+ | No |
| 2017 | China (via Turkey) | Free business class tickets for two on round trip from New York to China | $16,000+ | No |
| 2018 | Hungary (via Turkey) | Free upgrade to business class for two on round trip from New York to Hungary | $12,000+ | No |
| 2019 | Turkey | Free upgrade to business class for one on flight from New York to Turkey; free stay at Cosmopolitan Suite of St. Regis Istanbul; free meals, transportation, and entertainment in Istanbul | $9,000+ | No |
| 2021 | Turkey (solicited and accepted but then canceled) | Free upgrade to business class for two on round trip from New York to Turkey; free or steeply discounted luxury hotel and resort stays, transportation, entertainment, and meals | $21,000+ | No |
| 2021 | Ghana (via Turkey) | Free upgrade to business class for two on round trip from New York to Ghana; free meal and transportation during Istanbul layover | $12,000+ | No |
“From here, my attorneys will take care of the case so I can take care of the city,” he said at a news conference outside Gracie Mansion.
“It’s an unfortunate day. And it’s a painful day. But inside all of that is a day when we will finally reveal why, for 10 months, I’ve gone through this. And I look forward to defending myself,” the mayor said.
Hours earlier, Adams had argued the feds were targeting him for speaking out about the Big Apple’s spiraling migrant crisis.
Meanwhile, his lawyer claimed it was neither unusual nor improper for a government official to accept some travel perks.
Spiro insisted the travel perks and seat upgrades that Hizzoner accepted were commonly offered to VIPs and members of Congress.
Glad he was caught doing his dirty. Consequences for a corrupt politician.
According to Adams, he did nothing wrong. He was targeted by the Biden administration because of his objections to NYC hosting migrants.
According to North Carolina republican candidate for governor, he is innocent of going on a porn website and leaving racist comments. It is his opponent’s mudslinging.
According to Trump, he never did anything wrong and the 74 charges against him are Biden’s fault.
According to Menendez, he hoarded cash because that’s what they do in Cuba. Never mind that he was raised in America.
This is the new America people. Before Trump, people would blame the full moon, their childhood and whatever else came to mind, but not a “weaponized” justice system, designed to take them down, due to some personal vendetta .
You can not have a country or a democracy when the justice system is not trusted. Who wants an America without a justice system?
Very sad. And Turkish corruption has also seeped into the academic field of history.
Sakelaris is right, the academic infiltration should concern us more. It is “Green Money” mostly finance by wealthy Saudi’s, not necessarily under government sanction. Unfortunately this escapes the view of many Greeks because they are blinded by their antisemitism. I don’t mind if Turkey is prosperous, because a prosperous Turkey (as under Mitsotakis Demirel friends) will not attack Greece. Turkey attacked Cyprus when Ecevit’s socialist (eg Biden, Carter) policies impoverished Turkey and he needed electoral cover. A properous Turkey incorporated into the EU will essentially be recolonisable by Greeks. You have to recall the Greeks overtook the Byzantine empire from within, not without, and will do same in EU. I in the USA and my cousins in Europe had many friendly Turkish classmate who were never hostile Only the darker, more militant Turks from the eastern parts really bore any hostility. And Adams is essentially a good man, an undercover Republican. whose administration resembles Ed Koch. Trump is right to defend him.
These are good points in general. But if the FBI investigates the Turkish financial ties of some powerful people in the US they should soon reach many at the top of GOA.