Prosecutors say they expect to potentially file additional charges against the New York City mayor and indict others

NEW YORK – Additional charges against New York City Mayor Eric Adams are “possible” and “likely” more defendants will be added, a prosecutor said during a court hearing Wednesday.

“We are acting quickly,” said prosecutor Hagens Scotten. “We think that is quite likely.”

Adams has pleaded not guilty to charges accusing him of participating in a long-running conspiracy to solicit and accept illegal foreign donations.

The investigation into Adams began in the summer of 2021, “before the defendant had even become mayor,” Scotten said, revealing a previously undisclosed time frame.

The investigation uncovered text messages, emails and records from Turkish Airlines that Scotten said showed the mayor tried to “create the illusion” that he had properly paid for certain flights when in fact he had not had.

“It’s bribery and it’s against the law,” Scotten said.

“Several” witnesses who participated with Adams in the accused conduct and witnesses who made illegal donations are expected to testify, prosecutors said.

During the hearing, prosecutors announced they had evidence that Adams attempted to tamper with witnesses.

Scotten said that after the FBI approached a witness during the investigation, he received “a clear message from the defendant that he should not tell the FBI the truth.”

The witness was not named, but the prosecutor called it a “significant case of witness interference in this case.”

The mayor’s defense attorney has asked the court to reject the bribery allegation and impose separate sanctions on those charged with alleged leaks. The defense urged the court to act quickly.

“We don’t want this case to drag on. There is no reason for it to drag on,” said attorney Alex Spiro, rejecting federal prosecutors’ request for more time.

Spiro said he would respond to the federal prosecutor’s filing by Oct. 25. Ho set a date for hearing the current applications on October 31, if necessary.

When does the trial take place?

The trial was scheduled to begin and end in March to give Adams time to secure a spot on the ballot for re-election, his attorney said during the hearing.

“We want to take the matter to court,” Spiro said. “They indicted the sitting mayor of New York.”

Spiro expressed confidence that the bribery charge would be dismissed.

“We want this case to be completed in March,” Spiro said.

Judge Dale Ho agreed that the public and the mayor had a “strong interest” in a speedy trial, but declined to immediately set a trial date. Prosecutors suggested a trial date in May.

Prosecutors expected the trial to last about four weeks. The defense said it would be much shorter

Adams maintains his innocence

As criticism mounts over whether he can still do his job, Adams insists he can continue to run the city while letting his lawyers do their job in the courtroom.

When he arrived in court he was greeted by hecklers demanding his resignation, but Adams continues to maintain his innocence.

“I have done nothing wrong and every elected official in this city who calls on behalf of a constituent should be concerned about what is laid out here,” he said.

On the eve of Wednesday’s court date, Adams was joined on the steps of City Hall by supporters, community members and faith leaders who gathered around him in prayer. Many urged New Yorkers not to rush to judgment on the charges, but rather to focus on his service.

(ABC News and the Associated Press contributed to this report.)