New York City Mayor Eric Adams has been indicted by a grand jury on federal criminal charges.
While the indictment is sealed, two people familiar with the matter confirmed to the Associated Press that Adams had been indicted.
The news followed a series of investigations by federal authorities of Adams and a number of his associates, and swirling questions surrounding the major.
The New York Times was the first to report the indictment.
“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 in a statement. “If I am charged, I am innocent and I will fight this with every ounce of my strength and spirit.”
The indictment comes a little more than a month before the presidential election, as well as contests for the House and Senate. New York state is at the center of the race for the House majority, with a half dozen races seen as competitive.
The Hill has reached out to Adams’s press office, and a spokesperson from the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of New York declined to comment.
It is unclear what charges Adams faces or when he will appear in court. Adams is up for reeleciton next year.
In a speech recorded at his official residence, Adams acknowledged that some New Yorkers would question his ability to manage the city while he fights the charges, but he vowed to stay in office.
“I have been facing these lies for months … yet the city has continued to improve,” Adams said. “Make no mistake. You elected me to lead this city and lead it I will.”
Multiple deputies for Adams had their homes searched by FBI agents earlier this month. Adams also had his home raided by the FBI earlier this year as part of an investigation from the U.S. attorney’s office in Brooklyn.
New York City Schools Chancellor David Banks submitted his resignation earlier this week after federal agents seized his phone earlier this month, The Associated Press reported.
Earlier this month, New York City Police Commissioner Edward Caban also resigned nearly a week after the FBI seized his devices.
The mayor has faced calls to resign, including on Wednesday from Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.).
“I do not see how Mayor Adams can continue governing New York City. The flood of resignations and vacancies are threatening gov function. Nonstop investigations will make it impossible to recruit and retain a qualified administration,” Ocasio-Cortez said Wednesday in a post on the social platform X.
House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y.), however, had defended Adams on Wednesday morning.
“As far as I can tell, Mayor Adams is trying to do the best that he can in one of the toughest jobs in the world to keep the focus on meeting the needs of the residents of the people of New York City,” Jeffries said.
As the controversies have built up and the pressure has intensified, Adams has maintained his innocence.
He had repeatedly said he wasn’t aware of any wrongdoing and vowed as recently as Wednesday afternoon to stay in office.
Adams is the first mayor in New York City history to be indicted while in office. If he were to resign, he would be replaced by the city’s public advocate, Jumaane Williams, who would then schedule a special election.
Gov. Kathy Hochul has the power to remove Adams from office. Hochul’s office did not immediately return a request for comment Wednesday night.
The federal investigations into Adams administration first emerged publicly on Nov. 2, 2023, when FBI agents conducted an early morning raid on the Brooklyn home of Adams’ chief fundraiser, Brianna Suggs.
At the time, Adams insisted he followed the law and said he would be “shocked” if anyone on his campaign had acted illegally. “I cannot tell you how much I start the day with telling my team we’ve got to follow the law,” he told reporters at the time.
Days later, FBI agents seized the mayor’s phones and iPad as he was leaving an event in Manhattan. The interaction was disclosed several days later by the mayor’s attorney.
Then on Sept. 4, federal investigators seized electronic devices from the city’s police commissioner, schools chancellor, deputy mayor of public safety, first deputy mayor and other trusted confidantes of Adams both in and out of City Hall.
Federal prosecutors declined to discuss the investigations but people familiar with elements of the cases described multiple, separate inquiries involving senior Adams aides, relatives of those aides, campaign fundraising and possible influence peddling of the police and fire departments.
The Associated Press contributed to this story.