By Michael V. Cusenza
The U.S. Justice Department this week dismissed all charges against Mayor Eric Adams.
Hizzoner was indicted in Manhattan back in September on charges of bribery, campaign finance, and conspiracy. According to the indictment, Adams used his prominent positions in New York City government to obtain illegal campaign contributions and luxury travel. Adams solicited and accepted these benefits from foreign nationals, businessmen, and others. Adams then pressured the City Fire Department to facilitate the opening of a foreign government’s Manhattan skyscraper that had not passed a fire inspection. To conceal this criminal conduct, Adams took steps to hide his receipt of improper benefits from the public and law enforcement.
The mayor on Tuesday addressed the development.
“As I said from the outset, I never broke the law, and I never would. I would never put any personal benefit above my solemn responsibility as your mayor,” Adams said. “It is worth repeating the facts because many sensational and false claims have been made. So let me be clear, I never asked anyone to break the law on my behalf or on behalf of my campaign, never. And I absolutely never traded my power as an elected official for any personal benefit.
“No witness ever came forward publicly to make claims against me. None of the baseless threats from prosecutors of new charges and new evidence ever materialized. And this case will no longer continue.
But despite the fact that I am no longer facing legal questions, I also understand that many New Yorkers will still question my character. And I know that I must continue to regain your trust. I’ve learned a lot over the last year, and this experience has been humbling. But as we have been dragged through this unfortunate prosecution, I never took my eyes off what was important, you and your family’s future. And because of that, our city government has never been stronger. Just look at the figures.
“If you want to know who I am, all you have to know about me is where I am from. Who I am is not in the headlines, it is in my history. It’s the same place as you, working class, struggling to survive, in love with this city, even when it lets us down. I grew up in a place where justice always seemed out of reach. My family was betrayed by a city that didn’t care enough about us, and that’s why I fought for you and will keep fighting for you, because I am you, and that is why you can trust me to keep moving this city forward.
“This has been the most difficult 15 months of my life, but my inspiration was knowing that I was fighting for the people of this city. So many of those people are still facing their own difficult challenges every day, just like my own mother did when she worked three jobs to raise six children. If you work hard enough, New York City should give you a chance to succeed. This is our great promise. This is my promise to you. Hard work, real results, and a city and a mayor you can be proud of. Thank you, New York.”
