On the way to court, new details about the federal trial against Eric Adams emerge

New York City Mayor Eric Adams is expected to appear in federal court on Wednesday to face five criminal charges against him.

Adams was indicted last week and pleaded not guilty to charges of conspiracy to commit wire fraud, federal program bribery and accepting campaign contributions from foreign nationals; wire fraud; Request for donation by a foreigner; and bribery.

The 57-page indictment alleges that Adams accepted over $100,000 in undisclosed gifts such as luxury trips and hotel stays from Turkish businessmen and at least one Turkish government official.

“This was a multi-year scheme to buy favor with a single up-and-coming New York politician, Eric Adams,” U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York Damian Williams said at a news conference Thursday.

The trial is scheduled to begin at 10:30 a.m. at a courthouse just blocks from City Hall. The judge overseeing the case, Dale Ho, could set a tentative trial date.

Ho could also consider a defense request to open an investigation to determine whether prosecutors improperly leaked information about the Adams investigation to reporters.

Adams’ attorney, Alex Spiro, also filed a motion Monday to dismiss the bribery charges, claiming prosecutors’ allegations were “extraordinarily vague” and failed to prove that Adams violated the law.

On Monday, the number of top officials resigning from the Adams administration rose again as Timothy Pearson stepped down from his role as senior public safety adviser.

Police Commissioner Edward Caban, Chief Attorney Lisa Zornberg and Health Commissioner Dr. Ashwin Vasan resigned in the days and weeks leading up to the indictment.

New York City Schools Chancellor David Banks announced his resignation two days before the charges were dropped.

Several politicians are calling for Adams’ resignation, including New York Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez.

“I do not see how Mayor Adams can continue to govern New York City,” Ocasio-Cortez wrote on For the good of the city, he should resign.

So far, Adams has not expressed any plans to resign.

“From here, my lawyers will take care of the case so I can take care of the city,” Adams said at a news conference Thursday. “My everyday life won’t change.”

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