(NewsNation) — New York City Mayor Eric Adams is set to appear in court Wednesday after being indicted on bribery and fraud charges. He has pleaded not guilty to the charges.
Adams is alleged to have accepted around $100,000 worth of flights, hotel stays, meals and entertainment that were given to him for free or at a steep discount. Those are said to have occurred on international trips, most of which Adams took before he was elected mayor.
Prosecutors say a senior Turkish diplomatic official and Turkish businesspeople arranged the bribes, hoping to gain influence with Adams.
The indictment also accused Adams of receiving illegal campaign donations from foreign sources who aren’t allowed to contribute to U.S. political candidates.
In exchange, prosecutors say Adams helped Turkey open a new diplomatic facility in the city, overriding concerns from the fire department about the building’s ability to pass safety inspections.
Adams has denied the allegations and said the trips and his work on the building were both routine actions and were not improper. He has also suggested prosecutors improperly leaked information to the media and is asking the judge to investigate.
The Turkish Ministry of Foreign Affairs also denied any efforts to meddle in U.S. politics.