'Additional criminal conduct' in NYC Mayor Adams' criminal case uncovered: filing
NEW YORK - Federal prosecutors said they have uncovered "additional criminal conduct" in the investigation into New York City Mayor Eric Adams, FOX 5 NY's Morgan McKay reports.
An indictment unsealed against the Democratic mayor in September sufficiently details alleged bribery crimes. This "additional criminal conduct" is beyond what has been detailed in the indictment, according to Politico, which obtained the Department of Justice motion filed Monday.
"Law enforcement has continued to identify additional individuals involved in Adams’s conduct, and to uncover additional criminal conduct by Adams," Edward Kim, the acting U.S. Attorney for the Southern District in New York, wrote in the filing, according to Politico.
At the moment, it's unclear what new evidence, specifically, federal prosecutors have uncovered or who was involved. In October, prosecutors warned that Adams could face additional charges and others could be indicted as well.
Adams’ attorney, Alex Spiro, has been working to call the government’s bluff that there is additional criminal conduct and is pressuring prosecutors to turn over what’s called a bill of particulars, which is a detailed list of evidence that will be used at trial.
But prosecutors in their filing said that disclosing the names of additional alleged co-conspirators in advance would allow Adams to engage in witness tampering, pointing to the September indictment as evidence, saying,"as potential witnesses became known to Adams and his allies, measures were taken to influence their testimony."
Mayor Adams responds
When asked about the new filing in his criminal case at a Tuesday press conference, Adams punted questions to his lawyers.
"Even Ray Charles can see what’s going on," Adams said.
Trump would consider pardon for Mayor Adams
President-elect Donald Trump has stated he would consider pardoning NYC Mayor Eric Adams, who is facing federal bribery charges. The announcement comes as Adams’ longest-serving advisor, Ingrid Lewis-Martin, resigns amidst an ongoing Manhattan DA investigation into alleged bribery and money laundering. FOX 5's Morgan McKay has the story.
Eric Adams allegations
Adams has pleaded not guilty to corruption charges stemming largely from his relationships with several Turkish government officials and businesspeople from 2015 to 2022. The indictment alleged that he accepted tens of thousands of dollars in overseas travel benefits and illegal campaign donations from people seeking to buy his influence.
The indictment accused him of exploiting a relationship with the Turkish officials and businesspeople that he developed after he became Brooklyn Borough president in January 2014. He became mayor in January 2022.
Adams' criminal trial is scheduled for April.