NYC Pro-Crypto Mayor Eric Adams Faces Corruption Charges

Eric Adams, the mayor of New York City, is facing indictment charges after a federal corruption investigation. On Wednesday night, the mayor was brought in for questioning. However, the charges placed on him were not revealed to the public. The federal police said they would be disclosed during court proceedings on Thursday. The mayor, who has been serving since 2021, is the first person in NYC’s history to be charged while in office.

The charges heated up following an FBI investigation in November 2023. The investigators raided Adam’s electronic devices, suspecting his connections with the Turkish government. Further, they raided the residence of Adam’s chief fundraiser, Brianna Suggs.

Adams was suspected of receiving illegal donations from the Turkish government in 2021. Further, a probe was made to check whether the mayor had accepted expensive flights on Turkish Airlines, a carrier partially owned by the Turkish government.

However, Adams stood his ground about being innocent. He stated that he had been facing such charges since the time he was elected, yet the city had improved under his tenure. In a video speech, Adams stated that he would prove his innocence and fight till the very end. Interestingly, the mayor, an active supporter of cryptocurrency had been receiving his paychecks in Bitcoin and Ether since the start of his tenure. 

Following the indictment news, the federal police brought in many of the mayor’s advisers and close aides for questioning. Further, the mayor has received several calls to step down from his position. Interestingly, Adams is set to contest the elections next year. Scott Stringer, who is expected to run against Adams, stated that the mayor should resign for the good of the city.

If Eric Adams resigns from his position or surrenders to the charges, he will be replaced by the city’s public advocate, Jumaane Williams, who will be the acting mayor. Later, Williams will conduct a special election within 90 days to determine a new mayor.