Eric Adams likely to face more charges, accuses Biden-Harris of harassment

New York City Mayor Eric Adams returned to the federal courthouse in Manhattan on Wednesday for trial in a sprawling corruption case that, if convicted, could put him in prison for decades – but the defense of the fierce former cop is asking the court to bring at least one charge and punish the government for leaking confidential information.

Adams arrived in the courtroom a few minutes earlier, around 10:24 a.m., wearing a smile and a navy blue suit. Before joining the lawyers at the defense table, he placed a hand on a fan’s shoulder. He stared straight ahead as District Judge Dale Ho began the hearing at 10:32 a.m.

Prosecutors said it was “quite likely” that additional charges would be brought against additional defendants, which is possible in the new cases. They say the investigation is ongoing. But the defense won a narrow victory in demanding quick responses from the Justice Department to motions filed earlier this week as the mayor insists on his right to a speedy trial.

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Mayor Eric Adams arrives at a federal courthouse in New York, October 2, 2024. (Reuters/Caitlin Ochs)

Federal prosecutors asked the court for an Oct. 30 deadline, but the judge gave them an Oct. 18 deadline. The defense continued to press for tight deadlines, demanding discovery by the first week of December, which the judge again agreed to.

Defense attorney Alex Spiro added that the mayor’s side looks forward to a hearing if the case survives motions he filed earlier this week, and accused the government of delaying. He is seeking a March trial date and has said he expects the mayor to be acquitted.

“They’re trying to make it harder for prosecutors because the defense has more resources and they think they’re not ready,” said Neama Rahmani, a former federal prosecutor and trial attorney in Los Angeles.

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Defense attorney Alex Spiro said the mayor’s side looks forward to a trial if the case survives motions he filed earlier this week. (Reuters/Caitlin Ochs)

On the other hand, prosecutors have a paper trail, text messages and many witnesses.

“It’s a strong argument, but the government will have to rely on the testimony of associates to prove Adams’ intentions,” Rahmani told Fox News Digital. “Campaign finance and ethics violations are easier to prove than retaliation for bribery.”

Separately, both sides agreed on Tuesday to stop releasing certain materials to the media.

Adams is accused of accepting bribes and soliciting illegal campaign contributions from foreigners, then turning around and using those illegal donations to raise taxpayer money in the form of “matching” grants that pay out $8 to $1.

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New York Mayor Eric Adams is accused of accepting bribes and soliciting illegal campaign contributions from foreigners. (Reuters/Caitlin Ochs)

The United States Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of New York maintains that Adams used his position in the government to obtain benefits such as luxury travel and fine dining from wealthy business leaders, including at least one Turkish government official.

In return, Adams allegedly did favors, including helping Turkey gain fire department approval to open a new diplomatic tower in Manhattan, despite fire safety concerns. Adams’ defense responded that he had no authority over the Manhattan building during his time as Brooklyn borough president and therefore could not and did not produce the alleged “official record” required to prove the case against him.

Adams described the investigation as retaliation for criticism of the Biden-Harris administration’s border policies.

The mayor has previously blamed the White House for New York’s migrant crisis, which has overwhelmed the shelter system. The influx of illegal immigrants coincided with approx a sharp increase in robberies in the Big Apple, city police reported earlier this year.

Last week, the mayor pleaded not guilty and was released without bail. He denies any wrongdoing and says he will not step down. If convicted, he faces a maximum of 45 years in prison.

On Monday, Adams’ lawyers filed a motion to dismiss the bribery charge, arguing that the charges do not meet the requirements of a federal law called Section 666, citing the Supreme Court’s recent opinion in favor of an Indiana mayor accused of bribery for collecting. He argued that the $13,000 was a legal payment for consulting services.

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Mayor Eric Adams and attorney Alex Spiro speak to the media on the day of Adams’ arraignment in New York, September 27, 2024. (Reuters/Caitlin Ochs)

Then on Tuesday, Adams’ lawyers filed a motion seeking an evidentiary hearing and imposing sanctions on the Justice Department, which they accused of leaking confidential grand jury materials to the press.

They suggested that the appropriate measure might be to withdraw the indictment altogether.

But experts say leak investigations rarely make a difference.

“Leaks have occurred in most high-profile corruption cases,” said Anthony Capozzolo, a former federal prosecutor who handled similar cases in the neighboring Eastern District of New York. “But they usually don’t give a chance about the outcome of the case.”