NYC Mayor Adams Gets April Court Date As His Lawyers Fight Bribery Charges

NEW YORK (AP) — New York City Mayor Eric Adams returned to court Friday, sitting stoically as his lawyers fought to throw out a key charge in a federal corruption indictment that threatens his political future.

Attorneys for the Democrat are fighting to drop the bribery charge, one of five counts in the case, which U.S. District Judge Dale E. Ho said will go to trial on April 21, 2025.

They argued at a hearing in Manhattan federal court that the charge did not meet the federal standard of the crime, especially after the recent Decision of the US Supreme Court rethought how bribery is prosecuted.

Prosecutors suggested that Adams’ attorneys were at loggerheads because they allege Adams took bribes and exerted influence while holding previous elected positions and when he expected to become mayor.

WATCH: A look at New York City Mayor Eric Adams’ federal fraud and bribery charges

Ho said he would take the arguments “under consideration and try to rule in the near future”.

The bribery charge “does not point to a federal crime” and is “not specific enough” to support a count as part of Adams’ charge, his attorney, John Besh, argued.

“It was difficult for the United States attorney to determine what the ‘quo’ was here,” Basch said, referring to the concept of quid pro quo, a Latin phrase that basically means “this for that” or “something for something.” .”

The prosecutionwhich also includes fraud and conspiracy charges, accuses Adams of accepting $100,000 in airline upgrades and other luxury travel, along with illegal campaign contributions from a Turkish official and other foreign nationals seeking to buy his influence.

In exchange, prosecutors say, Adams performed political favors for the Turkish government, including pressuring the fire department in 2021 to approve the opening of a diplomatic tower it deemed unsafe.

At the time, Adams was holding another elected office, that of Brooklyn Borough President, but by then it was clear that he would become mayor.

Adams has pleaded not guilty to the charges and promised to remain in office while he defended himself.

Bash argued that the alleged rewards did not meet the legal definition of bribery because they occurred before he was mayor and “had nothing to do with his position in government.”

Adams’ attorneys say prosecutors seek to criminalize “normal and perfectly legal activities” that Adams engaged in as Brooklyn borough president before he was elected mayor.

Under the law, prosecutors must prove that Adams accepted bribes in exchange for using his official office for influence. Assistant U.S. Attorney Hagan Scotten argued that Adams’ role as county president “puts him in the fire marshal’s room, so to speak.”

Ho wondered if Adams’ job as county president and Adams’ upcoming move to City Hall gave him the right to pressure the fire department.

“It seems a little strange when the jurisdictional connection here is that he was the Brooklyn borough president, but his ability to exert pressure extends to something else,” Ho said.

Scotten stood firm, arguing that “if Margot Robbie called him and was really convincing,” the “Barbie” actor and producer still wouldn’t have been able to influence the fire department without holding elected office.

“He would probably take that call,” Ho quipped, drawing laughter from the courtroom.

Ho gave the defense and prosecution 20 minutes each to discuss the issue.

The judge interjected questions during the arguments, at one point asking Bash to consider whether prosecutors could remedy their alleged deficiencies by providing additional details or charges.

“I wouldn’t want to write the government’s indictment for them if they’re going to go in that direction,” Bash replied, before launching into a wide-ranging discussion of the intricacies of bribery law.

Scotten said at a hearing last month that they were conducting “several related investigations” and that it was “quite likely” that prosecutors would seek to supersede the indictment charging Adams with additional crimes. Scotten also said it is “likely” that other defendants will be charged.

Ho rebuffed another defense attempt to distance himself from the case Thursday night, denying Adams’ request for a hearing on the mayor’s claims that the government leaked information about the investigation to the media.

The judge ruled that Adams and his lawyers had failed to substantiate the claims, and that if the leak occurred, the government was to blame.

In court documents outlining their arguments, Adams’ attorneys said the years of upgraded flights and other perks the mayor received were at most “classic gratuities” that recent U.S. Supreme Court rulings ruled do not fall under the bribery statute if they were given in the past acts, according to Phil.

Federal prosecutors, meanwhile, responded that Adams’ actions were clearly criminal.

“It should be clear from the indictment that there is nothing out of the ordinary for a public official to receive over $100,000 in benefits from a foreign diplomat that he went to great lengths to conceal, including by fabricating false paper trails to create the illusion payment “, prosecutors wrote.

Several of Adams’ closest aides, including the police commissioner, schools director and several deputy mayors, have resigned in recent months after federal investigators conducted coordinated raids on their homes in early September.

Adams has argued that he can continue to effectively run the city while fighting the allegations.

But his political future remains complicated, and several opponents have announced plans to challenge him in next year’s mayoral primary.

Adams raised eyebrows earlier this week after repeatedly refusing to criticize former President Donald Trump, refusing to say when he last spoke to the Republican nominee and whether he wants a pardon if Trump wins re-election.