Federal prosecutors have alleged that they have uncovered “additional criminal conduct” by New York Mayor Eric Adams as he faces his upcoming trial in April. The prosecutors claim that Adams, 64, was charged in September with five criminal counts, including bribery, conspiracy to commit wire fraud, and solicitation of a contribution by a foreign national.
In court documents filed recently, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of New York stated that “law enforcement has continued to identify additional individuals involved in Adams’s conduct, and to uncover additional criminal conduct by Adams,” within the scope of the ongoing investigation.
Adams, speaking at a news conference, criticized the investigation, stating, “Even Ray Charles can see what’s going on,” in reference to the late blind artist. Adams reiterated his innocence, saying, “I’ve said over and over again: I’ve done nothing wrong.” His attorney, Alex Spiro, condemned the government’s actions, labeling it as “amateur hour” and accusing prosecutors of prioritizing headlines over justice.
The prosecutors were responding to Adams’ request for a bill of particulars, seeking more details about the charges and the basis for the accusations. The government opposed this request, arguing that disclosing a list of alleged co-conspirators could potentially compromise the ongoing investigation and lead to witness tampering.
According to the prosecutors, the indictment suggests that Adams and his associates may have taken steps to influence potential witnesses as their identities became known, even without resorting to physical violence. This concern for witness tampering was cited as a reason to deny Adams’ request for a bill of particulars in a white-collar case.
While specific details regarding the additional criminal conduct or individuals involved were not provided in the recent filing, during a court hearing in October, the government indicated that further charges against Adams were a possibility. Prosecutors also suggested that additional defendants could be charged in connection with the corruption case.
Adams, a former New York City police captain, has maintained his plea of not guilty. If convicted, he would be the first sitting New York City mayor in the modern era to be indicted on criminal charges.
