Attorneys representing New York City Mayor Eric Adams have filed a motion urging a federal judge to dismiss the bribery charge brought against him last week. The attorneys argue that the charge, which accuses Adams of accepting lavish travel benefits and illegal campaign contributions from a Turkish official and other foreign nationals in exchange for political favors, is based on an 'extraordinarily vague allegation' that does not meet the threshold for a federal crime.
Mayor Adams, a Democrat, entered a plea of not guilty to the charges on Friday and has expressed his determination to continue serving as mayor while vigorously fighting the allegations. The defense team contends that the prosecutors have failed to demonstrate a clear quid pro quo arrangement between Adams and the Turkish officials, asserting that Adams was merely assisting an important foreign nation in navigating bureaucratic processes.
The indictment alleges that Adams intervened to expedite the opening of a Manhattan consulate building for Turkey, following the acceptance of flight upgrades and luxury hotel stays. The defense maintains that even if there was an attempt by Turkish officials to gain favor with Adams, his actions do not violate federal bribery laws as they were not tied to any specific official act at the time of receiving the benefits.
The defense team also disputes the additional charges against Adams, including soliciting and accepting foreign donations and manipulating the city's matching funds program, labeling them as baseless accusations stemming from false claims made by a 'self-interested staffer with an axe to grind.' They assert that the truth will be revealed through the legal process.
Mayor Adams is scheduled to appear in court for a conference on Wednesday as the legal proceedings continue.
