The feds fired again Friday at Mayor Eric Adams’ bid to toss a part of his corruption case – ripping his declare that the luxurious goodies showered on him by Turkish benefactors have been “routine” perks for politicians.
The court docket submitting – a response to Adams’ legal professionals’ Sept. 30 movement urging a Manhattan federal choose to can a bribery cost – slams the protection’s argument that the feds are unjustly criminalizing Hizzoner’s “frequent” political exercise.
“Adams claims that accepting tens of thousand of {dollars}’ price of advantages in trade for pressuring a Metropolis company is ‘routine’ and ‘frequent’,” federal prosecutors quipped in a 30-page court docket submitting.
“However nevertheless routine that will have been for Adams, the legislation permits a jury to conclude that it was nonetheless unlawful.”
The bribery depend is one among 5 expenses the mayor faces within the unprecedented case.
Adams is accused of accepting $123,000 price of bribes from a Turkish diplomat and Turkish businesspeople – together with soft flight upgrades and discounted stays at luxe inns – in addition to hundreds of {dollars} in unlawful cash funneled to his 2021 mayoral marketing campaign.
In trade, Adams did favors on behalf of his benefactors, together with, as de facto mayor-elect in September 2021, pressuring the FDNY to hurry to open a brand new 36-story Turkish consular constructing regardless of hearth security issues, the indictment alleges.
Prosecutors additionally countered a declare made by Adams’ legal professional Alex Spiro that a few of the advantages the mayor allegedly scooped up weren’t “bribes” because the US Supreme Court docket defines them, however merely authorized “gratuities.”
The discounted flights, journey and alleged unlawful funds steered to his marketing campaign have been all accepted with Adams “agreeing ‘to be influenced,’ whereas gratuities are given as ‘a token of appreciation,’” the feds wrote, quoting from a latest Supreme Court docket determination on the matter.
Adams has pleaded not responsible to all the expenses he faces and has remained in his publish as mayor whereas the case performs out.
His attorneys have pushed for a trial as quickly as March 2025, whereas prosecutors have floated the chance of including extra expenses in what’s often known as a “superseding” indictment.
Adams’ reps have till Oct. 25 to answer the feds’ Friday movement. US District Choose Dale Ho will rule after that.
The mayor’s attorneys didn’t instantly reply Friday to a request for remark.
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