New York City Mayor Eric Adams’ initial response to federal charges being filed against him over alleged corruption Wednesday had echoes of former President Donald Trump’s reaction to two indictments last year.
“I have been facing these lies for months, since I began to speak out for all of you and their investigation started, yet the city has continued to improve,” Adams said in a pre-recorded video Wednesday night.
The video, in which Adams also said the charges were expected, appeared to take a similar line of attack on the U.S. Department of Justice taken by Trump in the wake of his indictments over the handling of classified documents.
“I consider it a great badge of courage,” the former President said on June 24, 2023. “I’m being indicted for you, and I believe the ‘you’ is the more than 200 million people who are out there who love our country.”
Main: New York City Mayor Eric Adams talks to the press outside Gracie Mansion, the official residence of the mayor of New York City, on September 26, 2024, after he was indicted on federal criminal charges. Inset: Republican presidential nominee, former U.S. President Donald Trump speaks at a campaign rally at the Johnny Mercer Theatre on September 24, 2024 in Savannah, Georgia.
TIMOTHY A. CLARY/AFP/Brandon Bell/Getty Images
Adams told reporters Thursday morning that he had dealt with leaks and speculation over the past 10 months and that it was not right he had found out about charges against him after the media had.
The Mayor also raised suspicion over why he was being investigated now when the allegations stretched back a decade and alleged the reason was because of his criticism of President Joe Biden‘s immigration policies.
New York City faced one of the largest influxes of migrants from the spring of 2022 through to late 2023, taking in around 200,000 people. After initially making space for new arrivals, the Mayor’s discontent with the White House’s handling of the situation became more obvious.
After repeated calls, alongside New York Governor Kathy Hochul, for federal aid and changes to work permits, Adams called in January 2024 for a resolution from Washington, D.C., as city funds became strained.
The mayor’s team has faced scrutiny for some time, but investigations into alleged corruption have ramped up in recent weeks, with multiple key figures in his administration leaving City Hall.
Then on Wednesday, the mayor was charged with one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud, federal program bribery, and to receive campaign contributions by foreign nationals; one count of wire fraud; two counts of solicitation of a contribution by a foreign national; and one count of bribery.
“From here, my attorneys will take care of the case so I can take care of the city,” Adams told reporters Thursday. “My day-to-day will not change.”
Standing outside his residence of Gracie Mansion, the Mayor insisted he would continue working for the residents of NYC, as some protestors shouted for him to resign.
Trump showed similar determination to declare his innocence as the charges against him rolled in, telling supporters at one point: “They want to take away my freedom because I will never let them take away your freedom.”
At the time of publishing, the former president has yet to comment on Adams’ indictment, despite having shown his support for him following a lawsuit alleging sexual misconduct in November 2023.
Newsweek reached out to the Trump campaign for comment on Adams’ indictment via email Thursday morning.
