New York City Mayor Eric Adams didn’t hold back in his criticism of Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY), branding her a “no-show congresswoman” while he faces growing legal challenges. On Thursday morning, the indictment against Adams was unsealed, revealing a federal investigation that began in 2021.
Prosecutors allege that Adams, 64, allegedly conspired with the Turkish government to receive illegal foreign campaign contributions in exchange for political favors, a scheme that reportedly started when he was a top official in Brooklyn and continued after he became mayor, according to The New York Times.
On Wednesday, Adams took aim at Ocasio-Cortez, dismissing her calls for his resignation and accusing her of neglecting her district. “I don’t listen to those comments that come from, you know, just basically a no-show congresswoman,” Adams told a local TV station. “She’s not doing constituent services in her district.”
“I do constituent services every day as the mayor of the city of New York,” Adams continued. “I don’t know when the last time they saw her in her congressional district.” The indictment has added fuel to an already heated political rivalry, as both Adams and Ocasio-Cortez face intense scrutiny.
AOC tweeted on Wednesday, “I do not see how Mayor Adams can continue governing New York City. The flood of resignations and vacancies are threatening gov function. Nonstop investigations will make it impossible to recruit and retain a qualified administration. For the good of the city, he should resign.”
I do not see how Mayor Adams can continue governing New York City.
The flood of resignations and vacancies are threatening gov function. Nonstop investigations will make it impossible to recruit and retain a qualified administration.
For the good of the city, he should resign.…
— Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (@AOC) September 25, 2024
In a statement to The Times, Ocasio-Cortez claimed, “I cannot see how Mayor Adams can continue governing New York City. “The flood of resignations and vacancies are threatening government function,” she said. Addressing the ongoing scrutiny faced by the administration, she remarked, “Nonstop investigations will make it impossible to recruit and retain a qualified administration.”
“For the good of the city, he should resign,” she finished.
Earlier in September, federal agents confiscated the phones of several top city officials including the police commissioner, the first deputy mayor, the schools chancellor, the deputy mayor for public safety, and a senior adviser to Mayor Adams. Additionally, federal prosecutors, probing into whether Mayor Adams colluded with the Turkish government to channel unlawful foreign donations to his campaign, have expanded their investigation to include his dealings with five other countries.
“For anyone who self-righteously claims people charged with serious crimes should not be in jail to now say that the second Black mayor of New York should resign because of rumors and innuendo — without even a single charge being filed — is the height of hypocrisy,” Adams stated earlier in the week. “I am leading this city to protect it from exactly that kind of phony politics.”
On Thursday, Damian Williams, the U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York, charged Adams with accepting illegal gifts and favors in exchange for political influence. According to Williams, this involved “a multiyear scheme to buy favor” with Adams, which included luxury travel and other expensive benefits from foreign nationals and government officials. Despite the pressure to resign amid ongoing federal investigations and public outcry, Adams has refused, asking the public to await his defense.
The indictment details that Adams received over $100,000 in gifts, which he tried to conceal, from as early as 2014 when he was the Brooklyn borough president, according to The Times. These gifts significantly included travel perks like heavily discounted flights and hotel accommodations. In return, Adams allegedly exerted pressure on city officials to approve a new Turkish consulate in Manhattan, overriding safety concerns.
The federal investigation into these allegations reached a dramatic point when agents arrived at Gracie Mansion to seize Adams’ phone. His lawyer criticized the federal actions as an unnecessary spectacle. The case continues to unfold, with Adams’ legal team preparing for his upcoming court appearance.
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