In a recent court filing, federal prosecutors disclosed that evidence tied to Mayor Eric Adams’ alleged corruption case includes classified materials that could threaten national security if released. Consequently, they have requested a closed hearing without the presence of Adams or his legal team. Assistant U.S. Attorney Celia Cohen made this request to Judge Dale Ho of the Southern District of New York, underscoring the sensitive nature of the evidence involved, as reported by Gothamist.
There are speculations that the surveillance evidence might be linked to Turkey. Although the specifics weren’t revealed, defense attorney Sabrina Shroff suggested that it could involve information gathered from surveillance of foreign nationals. She emphasized that this evidence “could originate from Turkey, and the U.S. does not want Turkey to become aware of its monitoring techniques.” Shroff also critiqued the federal government’s tendency to overclassify evidence, indicating that not all of it warrants such high levels of secrecy.
Mayor Adams faces five charges, including wire fraud, conspiracy, bribery, and seeking campaign contributions from foreign entities. The indictment claims that he communicated via text with unnamed Turkish officials and businessmen, allegedly receiving over $100,000 in travel benefits in return. One text exposed that Turkish insiders had prior knowledge of Adams’ mayoral election in 2021, with a lobbyist expressing a desire to discuss strategies with high-ranking Turkish officials to leverage the situation for lobbying advantages.
Adams’ attorney, Alex Spiro, pushed back against these allegations, asserting that the evidence from the government falls short and characterizing the claimed bribes as “small gifts.” Adams has firmly denied all accusations and has resisted calls for his resignation.
Despite his denial, the pressure on Adams is escalating. A poll released on October 4 revealed that nearly 70% of New York City residents believe he should resign, while about two-thirds think that Governor Kathy Hochul should utilize her authority to remove him from office. Hochul has indicated that she is keeping a close watch on the city’s developments.
Conversely, some voices advocate for the importance of legal procedures and caution against presuming guilt. House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries articulated that Adams should not resign but rather be allowed to work through the legal process. Nonetheless, Jeffries stressed the necessity for Adams to clearly communicate his plans to the residents of New York City.
