Legal professionals for Eric Adams claimed Friday that Manhattan federal prosecutors “misunderstand” the legislation and are utilizing a “jerry-rigged bribery idea” to cost the mayor — as they urged a choose to toss a part of the historic corruption case in opposition to him.
Protection legal professional Alex Spiro argued that the feds have not proven Adams broke the legislation — even when it’s true that he scooped up $123,000 in free or discounted journey perks in change for allegedly pressuring the Fireplace Division to fast-track the opening of the Manhattan Turkish Consulate constructing.
“The federal government has alleged no information past abnormal communications amongst officers about an necessary matter — a go to by the president of a rustic of over 80 million folks,” Spiro wrote in a 16-page movement.
“If this indictment suffices, prosecutors may just about all the time circumvent the Supreme Courtroom’s constitutionally primarily based limits on bribery statutes by characterizing on a regular basis actions as ‘stress.’”
The authorized submitting is a response to the feds’ movement final week blasting Adams’ declare that the posh goodies showered on him by Turkish diplomats and businesspeople have been “routine” perks for politicians.
Adams’ attorneys try to get Manhattan federal Decide Dale Ho to dismiss the rely of “soliciting and accepting a bribe” — which is simply one of many 5 costs Hizzoner faces within the first indictment ever filed in opposition to a sitting New York Metropolis mayor.
The mayor is individually charged with wire fraud for allegedly funneling international contributions to his 2021 marketing campaign via unlawful city-based “straw donors” — permitting him to obtain $10 million in public matching funds. He’s additionally accused of illegally asking for donations from international nationals.
The choose has set a court docket date for subsequent Friday, Nov.1, for each side to argue concerning the bribery cost earlier than he points a ruling.
The mayor’s attorneys individually urged the choose Friday to order a listening to to probe whether or not the feds within the Southern District of New York breached grand jury secrecy guidelines by “leaking” details about the investigation, and information that Adams had been indicted, to reporters.
Spiro argued that the media’s protection of the case earlier than Adams’ indictment was made public — together with tales within the New York Occasions, The Put up and CNN — displays a “clear sample … of express sourcing to legislation enforcement.”
He stated there’s sufficient proof that the federal government was behind the alleged leaks to warrant a listening to.
However the feds stated Adams has not proven any proof that the prosecution crew was liable for any of the main points concerning the probe that surfaced in revealed studies.
The 4 members of the prosecution crew — Hagan Scotten, Celia Cohen, Andrew Rohrbach and Derek Wikstrom — and brokers from the FBI and metropolis Division of Investigation have all sworn to Margery Feinzig, the deputy chief of SDNY’s legal division, that they haven’t “disclosed” details about the case to the press, court docket papers present.
The feds additionally stated in an Oct.18 submitting that sure particulars concerning the probe that surfaced within the media — just like the existence of search warrants and subpoenas — have been recognized to folks exterior the prosecution crew.
Prosecutors additionally stated their workplace had knowledgeable a number of folks of Adams’ impending indictment, together with courthouse employees and Division of Justice officers in Washington, DC.
They argued that no less than one article concerning the case, a Nov. 11, 2023, story in The Put up, was the results of alleged leaks by Adams’ camp, somewhat than the feds.
The choose has stated the court docket could use the Nov. 1 date to carry oral arguments on the leak query, in addition to the dispute over the bribery cost.
Adams, 64, has pleaded not responsible to the entire costs he faces and has vowed to stay in workplace because the case performs out.
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