Tuesday, December 17, 2024
Year : 2, Issue: 16
ABC7 News: President-elect Donald Trump on Monday said in a far-ranging news conference that he would consider pardoning embattled New York City Mayor Eric Adams, who is facing federal fraud and corruption charges.
“Yeah I would,” consider pardoning Adams, Trump told reporters at his Mar-a-Lago club in Florida, before saying that he was not familiar with the specifics of the charges Adam is facing.
The mayor has refused to speculate on a potential pardon and said the topic has not come up in their private conversations.
“Only thing we talk about is improving the city – the city that I love, the city that he loves,” Adams said.
Adams is accused of accepting flight upgrades and other luxury travel perks valued at $100,000 along with illegal campaign contributions from a Turkish official and other foreign nationals looking to buy his influence. Multiple members of his administration have also come under investigation, including Ingrid Lewis-Martin, chief advisor and longtime aide to Mayor Adams, who announced Sunday that she is resigning from her post.
A grand jury in Lower Manhattan has been hearing evidence against Lewis-Martin and could vote on an indictment as soon as this week.
On Monday, Lewis-Martin’s attorney Arthur Aidala said he expects his client to be indicted on criminal charges related to alleged improper gifts, saying “we are pretty certain that one day this week we are going to be appearing in court at 100 Centre Street.”
“Pieces of puzzles are going to be put together to make it look as horrible as possible,” Aidala said as he sat alongside Lewis-Martin at his Manhattan office. “But we know the truth, and the truth is Ingrid Lewis-Martin never broke the law.”
Lewis-Martin also delivered an impassioned defense of her career in public service at her attorney’s Midtown office.
A spokesperson for the Manhattan district attorney’s office said in an email that it would be “inappropriate” to comment “because this Office acts with the utmost integrity.”
The investigation, by the Manhattan District Attorney’s office, is separate from the ongoing federal investigation into the mayor.
As for the mayor himself, the New York City Campaign Finance Board denied public matching funds for his reelection bid on Monday.
Nineteen candidates were given matching funds for their 2025 campaigns but Adams was not one of them.
The board rarely gives public comment as to why a candidate is not getting funds but they made a rare exception.
The board chair said it’s in the public interest that he speaks out about the reasoning behind the decision.
“As New Yorkers know, I do not sit back and complain about hurdles, I get off those hurdles whenever people tell me what I can’t do, I continue to show that I can do,” Adams said. “And I’ve got that can do energy and spirit and I have enough money to put on a good campaign and get my message out and continue to lead in this area.”
