New York City Mayor Eric Adams was arraigned on federal corruption and bribery charges, becoming the first sitting mayor of the city to face criminal charges in the modern era. He is charged with accepting $100,000 worth of free plane tickets and luxury hotel stays from Turkish nationals and a government official in exchange for favors. Adams maintains his innocence and plans to fight the charges. His lawyer criticized the prosecutors, calling the case shaky and built on lies from a staffer. Adams is accused of disguising foreign money by funneling it through U.S. citizens to receive matching public funds for his campaign. He allegedly received free travel benefits and illegal campaign contributions from Turkish nationals. There is also a separate federal investigation into other officials close to Adams, including Police Commissioner Edward Caban, which is related to potential pay-to-play schemes involving bars and clubs in Manhattan and Queens. Despite calls from some politicians for Adams to resign, others, including Sen. Chuck Schumer and Gov. Kathy Hochul, have not called for his removal from office. The investigation surrounding Adams and his administration remains ongoing, with U.S. Attorney Damian Williams promising to hold more people accountable. Adams faces allegations of bribery, conspiracy to commit wire fraud, and solicitation of contributions by a foreign national.
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