Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY) called for New York City’s Democratic Mayor Eric Adams to resign as reports emerged that he been indicted as part of a long-running federal corruption investigation.
According to The New York Times, the indictment is still under seal, but it is widely anticipated that Adams will become the first sitting NYC mayor to face criminal charges.
The indictment is reported to involve serious allegations of laundering foreign donations, with sources suggesting the contributions came from the Turkish government in exchange for favorable actions by the mayor.
The investigation was reportedly focused on whether his campaign received illegal foreign contributions, particularly from the Turkish government, in exchange for political favors.
Federal prosecutors are also scrutinizing whether Adams received personal perks, including upgraded flights on a Turkish government-owned airline.
Adams, for his part, has forcefully denied any wrongdoing. In a statement responding to the reports of his indictment, Adams claimed he was being targeted for standing firm in his policies for the city.
“I always knew that if I stood my ground for New Yorkers that I would be a target—and a target I became,” Adams said.
“If I am charged, I am innocent and I will fight this with every ounce of my strength and spirit.”
The corruption probe escalated dramatically last year when federal agents seized Adams’ electronic devices as he was leaving an event in Manhattan.
Around the same time, they raided the home of one of his top campaign fundraisers.
Since then, the case has expanded, with investigators examining Adams’ connections not only with Turkey but also with other foreign governments, including China, Qatar, Uzbekistan, South Korea, and Israel.
Just last month, Adams confirmed that he had been subpoenaed by federal prosecutors and said that both he and his staffers were cooperating with the investigation.
The indictment comes at a tumultuous time for New York City’s leadership, with several top officials in Adams’ administration facing their own legal troubles.
Earlier this month, the FBI executed search warrants at the residence of Philip Banks, Adams’ Deputy Mayor for Public Safety, and at the residence of Sheena Wright, the First Deputy Mayor, who shares a home with NYC Schools Chancellor David Banks.
The home of Winnie Greco, Adam’s Director of Asian Affairs, was also raided in connection with a campaign fundraising investigation.
Phones belonging to key figures, including former NYPD Commissioner Edward Caban, were also seized. The web of investigations has created a crisis within City Hall, as multiple figures in Adams’ inner circle come under legal scrutiny.
These developments have prompted calls from political opponents for Adams to step down, most notably from Rep. Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY), who represents the state’s 14th District.
“I do not see how Mayor Adams can continue governing New York City,” AOC tweeted on Wednesday.
“The flood of resignations and vacancies are threatening government function,” she added.
“Nonstop investigations will make it impossible to recruit and retain a qualified administration. For the good of the city, he should resign.”
However, Adams was quick to fire back, accusing Ocasio-Cortez of hypocrisy and questioning her motives.
“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 said in a statement to Fox News Digital.
“I am leading this city to protect it from exactly that kind of phony politics,” he added.
“The people of this city elected me to fight for them, and I will stay and fight no matter what.”
The corruption probe has already claimed several casualties within Adams’ administration.
Former Buildings Commissioner Eric Ulrich was charged with bribery earlier this year, and several high-profile donors to Adams’ campaign have been implicated in a straw-donor scheme.
David Banks announced he would also be resigning after the raid on his home.
More recently, Caban resigned from his post as NYPD Commissioner, only to be succeeded by interim Commissioner Thomas Donlon, who himself became the subject of a federal raid last week.
The indictment is expected to be unsealed soon, with U.S. Attorney Damian Williams likely to announce the charges within the coming days.
The New York Post reported that Adams is expected to turn himself in early next week.
Sometimes they eat their own.
Even Kotex knows this guy is corrupt.