Tag: Turkey

New York Mayor Adams Indicted on Corruption Charges. 

Yesterday, the mayor of New York, Eric Adams, was indicted for corruption allegations. According to a report in the New York Times, Adams faces federal bribery charges, fraud, and soliciting illegal campaign funds from foreign countries.  The central allegation facing Adams is that he conspired with the Turkish government to obtain funds for his re-election campaign. The federal indictment against Adams states that in return for the illegal funds, he pressured the New York Fire Department to approve the building of a new Turkish consulate despite serious concerns about its safety. According to another New York Times report, Adams reportedly solicited funds from Qatar, South Korea, Uzbekistan, Israel, and China. However, it is not just Adams facing criminal charges against him. According to the Times, the former and interim police commissioner, a former building commissioner, the deputy mayor, and a phalanx of aides are facing similar charges or, at the very least, have had to meet with federal investigators over possible corruption charges. Adams hasn’t resigned yet as of writing, but it seems like it’s only a matter of time until he does. 

Eric Adams and Turkish Money in New York Politics.

Last week, Eric Adams, the mayor of New York City, got himself embroiled in a fundraising scandal. According to an article in Reuters, Adams’s chief campaign fundraiser, Brianna Suggs, had her home searched by FBI agents on November 2nd due to Adams’ possible involvement in a scheme to funnel foreign money from a Turkish donor to his mayoral campaign. On top of that, according to a report in the New York Times, Adams allegedly pressured the New York Fire Department (NYFD) to sign off on the Turkish government’s new consular building despite safety concerns. A follow-up article in the Times stated that Adams had cultivated close ties to the Turkish business community in New York. Many people this time of year are looking forward to turkey and all of the fixings; however, for Adams, the fixings surrounding Turkey could be bribery and corruption, not stuffing and mashed potatoes.