New York Mayor Eric Adams has been charged in an unprecedented federal indictment with fraud, bribery and soliciting illegal donations to foreign campaigns.

The allegations, which Adams vowed to vigorously contest, further roiled his administration, following months of revelations about multiple law enforcement investigations into the mayor, several of his top officials and his 2021 political campaign. Several administration officials — including the police commissioner, the chancellor of the schools, the health commissioner and Adams’ chief attorney — have either resigned or announced plans to do so in recent weeks amid increasing scrutiny from the mayor and his inner circle.

Here’s what you need to know about the charges and the ongoing consequences.

What is the mayor accused of?

Prosecutors from the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of New York allege that Adams violated campaign finance laws by offering favorable treatment in exchange for illegal benefits from foreigners.

They say he sought and accepted illegal “straw donations” from foreigners, including Turkish citizens, concealing the true identities of actual donors through U.S.-based passthrough donors to circumvent restrictions on campaign contributions.

This allowed Adams’ 2021 mayoral campaign to boost the amount it received in public matching funds from the city’s Campaign Finance Board, the U.S. attorney’s office said. The campaign ultimately received more than $10 million in matching funds, although not all of the money came from the alleged misconduct.

What does the indictment say?

Prosecutors say Adams solicited and received other improper benefits that he did not disclose from some of the same co-conspirators involved in the straw donor program.

A senior Turkish diplomatic official arranged for Adams and his companions to travel for free or at a discount on Turkish Airlines — in which the Turkish government has a significant ownership stake — to France, China, Sri Lanka, India, Hungary and Turkey, the indictment said. . This official and other Turkish nationals are said to have provided Adams and his companions with free luxury hotel rooms, luxurious meals and entertainment.

Prosecutors say that when Adams was Brooklyn borough president and running for mayor in 2021, he “intervened with the FDNY to allow the Turkish Consulate (in New York) to occupy a skyscraper that had not passed the Fire Safety Inspection had come,” in exchange for luxury. trips arranged by the Turkish official and a manager of Turkish Airlines. In September, the indictment says, the official told Adams it was his turn to reciprocate by facilitating the opening of the 36-story skyscraper in time for a high-profile visit by Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan , and Adams “did as he was commanded.”

“Because of Adams’ pressure on the FDNY, the FDNY official responsible for the FDNY’s fire safety assessment of the skyscraper was told he would lose his job if he did not acquiesce, and after Adams intervened arrived, the skyscraper was opened as requested,” prosecutors allege. September 2021 was the same month in which Adams allegedly accepted some straw donations from a Turkish national, according to the indictment.

Although Adams, as a city government employee, was required to disclose these benefits, he never did so, according to the U.S. attorney’s office. And in some cases, he allegedly tried to create, or directed others to do, a fake paper trail of receipts and invoices to avoid the appearance of impropriety.

The suit includes allegations that Adams deleted messages with others involved in his alleged misconduct. The document details a 2019 incident in which Adams wrote to one of his staffers — an unknown co-conspirator — that he “always” deleted her messages.

Prosecutors say Adams continued to solicit and accept straw donations in 2023 and 2024 for his 2025 re-election campaign, which is also participating in the city’s matching fund program. A Turkish entrepreneur identified in the document as a “promoter” is accused of facilitating many of the illegal benefits Adams allegedly received, “including a free two-night stay at the Cosmopolitan Suite at the St. Regis Istanbul .’

How has the mayor responded to the accusations?

In a defiant video message released late Wednesday night, Adams denied wrongdoing and vowed to fight the charges “with all my might” after media reported that a sealed indictment had been issued. He said the expected accusations were “completely false, based on lies.”

At a hastily arranged news conference Thursday morning outside his official residence at Gracie Mansion, the mayor emphasized that he would follow campaign rules and the law and could still lead the city despite the allegations. Earlier that morning, federal agents searched the mansion and seized Adams’ phone.

What happens now?

Damian Williams, the U.S. attorney for the Southern District of New York, said at his own news conference Thursday morning that prosecutors would “continue to dig” into Adams’ alleged misconduct.

Adams has yet to be charged in court. It’s possible the mayor will turn himself over to federal authorities in the coming days, in a typical arrangement between prosecutors and high-profile defendants in white-collar crime cases.

If Adams steps down, attorney Jumaane Williams would succeed him as acting mayor and temporarily lead the city before a special election. If Adams continues to serve, he will have to combat the growing perception that he can no longer perform his duties effectively amid at least three other federal investigations into his administration.

What are other leaders saying?

Even before Adams was charged, several progressive elected officials called for his resignation amid federal investigations into his campaign finances and City Hall. They argued that he could not realistically run the city amid growing investigations, and got their biggest boost this week when progressive standard-bearer Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez said Adams should resign for the good of the city.

After news of the indictment emerged Wednesday evening, moderates such as Councilman Bob Holden and Senator John Liu called for Adams to resign for similar reasons.

Others, including the mayor’s close political allies like state Assembly member and Brooklyn Democratic Party chair Rodneyse Bichotte-Hermelyn, say Adams should be presumed innocent until proven guilty. They point out that he dedicated his life to serving New York City, including as an NYPD officer, senator and Brooklyn borough president.

A spokesperson for Governor Kathy Hochul, who like Adams is a moderate Democrat, said she is monitoring developments surrounding the charges. As governor, she has the power to remove Adams from office if he is criminally charged. She was expected to comment further on the news later on Thursday.

Some business leaders in the city say Adams should be given a chance to fully respond to the allegations against him through the legal process.

What about the other studies?

It remains to be seen whether the other federal investigations into Adams’ administration will lead to charges. This reportedly involves former Police Commissioner Edward Caban and Caban’s two brothers, outgoing Schools Chancellor David Banks and Banks’ two brothers, and his adviser Winnie Greco.