Eric Adams believes federal charges against him are politically motivated

New York City Mayor Eric Adams speculated that he angered the Justice Department after speaking out against the Biden administration's immigration policies.

Adams was indicted by a federal grand jury in September and faces five counts, including bribery, soliciting campaign contributions from foreign nationals, wire fraud and conspiracy. He has pleaded not guilty to all charges.

“I didn't break the law. I didn't do anything wrong — that's how I live my life. And that's how I'm going to continue to live my life,” Adams said Wednesday in an interview with the Fox News anchor. Martha MacCallum on “The Story”.

The FBI raids the homes of New York Mayor Eric Adams' top aides.

New York City Mayor Eric Adams is flanked by his Deputy Mayor Sheena Wright, left, and Councilor Ingrid Lewis-Martin during his weekly in-person press conference at the Hotel's Blue Room on March 5, 2024, in New York. (Luiz C. Ribeiro/New York Daily News/Tribune News Service via Getty Images)

He said the timing of the indictment was “clearly suspicious” and vowed to continue fighting for what he believes is right.

Damian Williams, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York, said in a statement to the time the indictment was issued that Adams “abused his position as this city's highest elected official, and before that Brooklyn Borough President, to accept bribes and solicit illegal campaign contributions.”

“By allegedly obtaining improper and illegal advantages from foreign nationals – including allowing a Manhattan skyscraper to open without a fire inspection – Adams put the interests of his benefactors, including a foreign official, ahead of before those of his voters”, we can read in part in the press release. .

During the press conference, Mayor Adams announced a new 60-day stay restriction for adult migrant/asylum seekers in city shelters. (Luiz C. Ribeiro for NY Daily News via Getty Images)

MacCallum asked New York mayor if he was concerned about what the FBI might uncover in its investigation after his chief adviser resigned earlier this week amid reports she will be indicted on criminal charges.

“No,” Adams said dryly. “They all have lawyers. And I don't want to do anything that would compromise their case, but I tell my team, and I do, that we follow the law. It's about following the law. I don't not spent 22 hours as a police officer enforcing the law to break the law.

A former Adams aide was charged with witness tampering and destruction of evidence in October after he would have deleted Signal, an encrypted communications app, from his phone that was allegedly used to communicate with the mayor.

President-elect Donald Trump said he would consider pardoning Adams after a reporter asked him during a news conference at Mar-a-Lago earlier this week.

“Yes, I think he was treated quite unfairly. Now, I haven't seen the severity of it all, but it's similar, you know, to being upgraded on a plane many years ago,” he said. Trump said.

MOST NEW YORK RESIDENTS WANT INDIVIDUAL MAYOR ERIC ADAMS TO REIGN: POLL

Adams said he did not apologize to the new 47th president and that in their conversations they only talked about their love for New York and how they could potentially work together.

President-elect Donald Trump arrives to speak during a news conference at Austin-Bergstrom International Airport, Friday, Oct. 25, 2024, in Austin, Texas. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon) (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)

“I work with the president and his administration, I am not at war with him. I repeat this quote over and over again. And my lawyer is an excellent lawyer. He will handle every avenue possible to obtain justice. I would not have should not have been charged,” Adams argued.

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“No American should have to go through what I'm going through right now. This country believes in fairness and what I'm going through.[ing] is not just a professional tragedy; It’s a personal tragedy.”