Mayor Eric Adams addressed the federal indictment against him for the first time in person Thursday, assuring New Yorkers that “my day-to-day will not change.”
“We expected this,” Adams said, flanked by supporters outside Gracie Mansion. “This is not surprising to us at all.
“The actions that have unfolded over the last 10 months with leaks, commentary, the demonizing — this did not surprise us that we reached this day,” he said.
“I asked New Yorkers to wait to hear our defense before making any judgment,” he said. “In about 30 minutes you’re going to hear a story about the case that is in front of us. The story will come from federal prosecutors, and I ask to wait and here our side to this narrative.
“From here my attorneys will take care of the case so that I can take care of the city,” Adams added.
Hizzoner was met with chants of “amen” from his backers.
“It’s an insult to the hard-working people of this city that anyone would say that they won’t do their job while this case proceeds in the background,” Adams said.
Hizzoner was met with calls of “Amen” from his supporters.
The defiant pol was flanked by civil rights activists Herbert Daughtry, Chantel Wright, Hazel Dukes and others.
“They’re dedicated public servants and I have been one of them for many years, and they’re going to continue to do their job moving this city forward every day,” he said. “It’s an unfortunate day and it’s a painful day but in spite of all of that it’s a day when we will finally reveal why for 10 months I have gone through this.”
“I look forward to defending myself and defending the people of this city as I’ve done throughout my entire professional career.”
The federal case against Adams marks the first time a sitting Big Apple mayor has been hit with criminal charges will in office.
The charges include allegations that Adams took illegal campaign money from the Turkish government to fast-track approval of a Turkish Consulate in Manhattan, according to sources.
The investigation has ensnared several administration officials close to the mayor, including schools Chancellor David Banks, NYPD Commissioner Edward Caban and Chief Counsel Lisa Zomberg.
Dukes, a civil rights activist and former president of the NAACP, said New Yorkers should not rush to judgment.
“Let the due process roll and he is not to resign,” she said. “I think it’s so unfair. We have been waiting for ten months for an indictment to come down.”