NYC Mayor allegedly defrauded New York City out of $10 million in public funds

NYC Mayor allegedly defrauded New York City out of $10 million in public funds.

New York Mayor Eric Adams has been indicted by a federal grand jury on still-sealed charges, according to sources familiar with the situation.

Adams is now the first sitting mayor in New York City’s history to face an indictment. Should he resign, the city's public advocate, Jumaane Williams, would assume his role and organize a special election.

Governor Kathy Hochul has the authority to remove Adams from office, though she did not immediately respond to requests for comment on Wednesday night.

Adams, a former police officer turned politician, has been under federal investigation for nearly a year, along with members of his inner circle. His phones were confiscated, and in recent weeks, federal agents searched the homes of some of his closest associates as part of ongoing corruption probes.

Two weeks ago, Adams accepted the resignation of Edward Caban, his handpicked police commissioner, after Caban’s phones were subpoenaed by authorities. His chief counsel, Lisa Zornberg, also stepped down. Additionally, Schools Chancellor David Banks announced this week that he plans to retire by the end of the year, having also turned over his phone to federal authorities.

Banks’s brothers, Philip, the deputy mayor for public safety, and Terence, along with his fiancée Sheena Wright, the first deputy mayor, had their phones seized as part of the investigation.

A spokesperson for the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Southern District of New York declined to comment.

In response to the indictment, Adams released both written and video statements Wednesday night.

"I always knew that standing up for New Yorkers would make me a target—and a target I’ve become. If I am charged, I am innocent and will fight this with every ounce of strength and spirit," he said.