Lawyers for Eric Adams claimed Friday that Manhattan federal prosecutors “misunderstood” the law and are using a “jerry-rigged bribery theory” to charge the mayor — as they asked a judge to dismiss part of the case. Was requested to do. historical corruption case against him.
Defense attorney Alex Spiro argued that the Federal Reserve has not shown that Adams broke the law – even if it is true that he allegedly pressured the Fire Department to expedite the opening of the Manhattan Turkish Consulate. In return he received $123,000 in free or discounted travel allowances. building.
“The government alleges there were no facts beyond simple communications between officials regarding an important matter – the visit of the president to a country of more than 80 million people,” Spiro wrote in the 16-page motion.
“If this indictment is sufficient, prosecutors can always circumvent the Supreme Court’s constitutionally based limits on bribery laws by characterizing everyday activities as ‘coercion.’
Legal filing is the answer The Fed’s proposal last week rejected Adams’ claim. The luxurious gifts showered upon him by Turkish diplomats and businessmen were “regular” perks for politicians.
Adams’ lawyers are trying to get Manhattan federal Judge Dale Ho to dismiss the case of “soliciting and accepting bribes” — one of five charges Hizzoner faces in the first indictment ever filed against a sitting mayor of New York City.
The mayor has been separately charged with wire fraud for allegedly funneling foreign contributions to his 2021 campaign through illegal city-based “straw donors” – thereby preventing him from receiving $10 million in public matching funds. Got permission. He is also accused of illegally soliciting donations from foreign citizens.
The judge has set next Friday, November 1, for both sides to argue the bribery charge before handing down the verdict.
The mayor’s lawyers separately urged the judge on Friday to order a hearing to investigate whether the feds in the Southern District of New York “leaked” information about the investigation and the news of Adams’ conviction. Violated grand jury confidentiality rules.
Spiro argued that media coverage of the case before Adams’ indictment was made public – which included stories in The New York Times, The Post, and CNN – reflected a “clear pattern … of blatant sourcing for law enforcement.”
He said there was enough evidence that the government was behind the alleged leak, hence a hearing was needed.
But the feds said Adams had not shown any evidence that the prosecution team was responsible for any details of the investigation revealed in published reports.
Four members of the prosecution team – Hagen Scotton, Celia Cohen, Andrew Rohrbach and Derek Wickstrom – and agents from the FBI and the city’s Division of Investigation have sworn to Margery Feinzig, deputy chief of the SDNY’s criminal division, that they “did not” tell the press about the case. The information was disclosed, court papers show.
The feds also said in an October 18 filing that some details about the investigation that emerged in the media – such as the existence of search warrants and subpoenas – were known to people outside the prosecution team.
Prosecutors also said that their office had informed several people about Adams’s impending indictment, including court staff and Justice Department officials in Washington, DC.
He argued that at least one article about the case, November 11, 2023, story in The Post, This was the result of an alleged leak by Adams’ camp rather than the Feds.
The judge has said the court can use the November 1 date for oral arguments on the leaks question as well as the dispute over the bribery charge.
Adams, 64, has pleaded not guilty to all charges against him and has vowed to remain in office while the case continues.
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