**In Short:**
- Charges stem from a long-running federal corruption probe.
- Adams vowed to remain in office, calling the charges "false and based on lies."
- He has consistently denied any wrongdoing.
New York City Mayor Eric Adams announced on Wednesday that he expects to face federal charges, following a New York Times report indicating that he had already been indicted in connection with a long-running federal corruption investigation. Adams, a Democrat, would be the first of the city's 110 mayors to face criminal charges while in office. In a video statement, he declared his innocence, stating that if charges are filed, they would be "entirely false, based on lies." He also vowed to stay in office while fighting the allegations.
Defying calls from fellow Democrats to resign, Adams stated, "You elected me to lead this city, and lead it I will."
According to *The New York Times*, the indictment is expected to be unsealed on Thursday, at which point Adams may appear in court. The exact charges remain unclear, and it is uncertain whether Adams will be arrested or surrender voluntarily.
Other media outlets, citing unnamed sources, later reported that a federal grand jury had indeed indicted the mayor.
The charges follow an FBI search of Adams' electronic devices last November and come amid a wave of resignations from top city officials as federal corruption investigations intensify around his administration.
A spokesperson for the U.S. Attorney's Office in Manhattan, which is handling the case, declined to comment. Adams' legal team did not immediately respond, aside from providing a transcript of his video statement.
One of Adams' attorneys confirmed that the mayor has been cooperating with the investigation, though details of the probe remain undisclosed.
Adams suggested that the charges "would not be surprising" given the "leaks and rumors" aimed at damaging his credibility.
If Adams were to be removed from office, Public Advocate Jumaane Williams would assume the role of mayor in New York City, the largest city in the United States with a population of about 8.3 million.
The case is expected to complicate Adams' potential bid for re-election in 2025. Several Democratic politicians, including New York City Comptroller Brad Lander, have already signaled their intention to challenge him for the party's nomination. Lander, once a key ally of President Joe Biden, has now joined the growing chorus calling for Adams to resign.
“The most appropriate path forward is for him to step down so that New York City can receive the full attention its leadership requires,” Lander said on X (formerly Twitter).
Prior to the indictment news, U.S. Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez became the first member of Congress to urge Adams to resign, stating it would be “for the good of the city.”
Shortly before the announcement, Adams attended a reception at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York, where both President Joe Biden and First Lady Jill Biden gave remarks. Adams, however, did not address the gathering.
*The New York Times* reported in early November 2023, citing a search warrant, that federal authorities were investigating whether Adams' 2021 mayoral campaign accepted illegal donations, including from the Turkish government.
The investigation, led by the U.S. Attorney's office in Manhattan, is focusing on whether Adams' campaign conspired with a Brooklyn construction company to funnel foreign money into his 2021 bid through a straw-donor scheme, according to the *Times*.
Authorities have also sought information about Adams' dealings with other nations, including Israel, China, Qatar, South Korea, and Uzbekistan.
Adams, 64, a former NYPD captain, has repeatedly denied any wrongdoing and stated that he is cooperating fully with the investigation. His legal team, in a statement on August 15, noted that they had conducted their own internal review and found no evidence of illegal conduct by Adams.
On Wednesday, city public schools chancellor David Banks announced that he would retire at the end of the year, just weeks after reports from the *Times* revealed that federal agents had seized his phones.
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