ISTANBUL (Reuters) - U.S. prosecutors on Thursday charged New York City Mayor Eric Adams with accepting illegal campaign contributions and luxury travel from Turkish nationals seeking to influence him, with prosecutors alleging the scheme stretched back to 2014.
Adams has longstanding ties with NATO member and regional power Turkey including a handful of visits to the country, ties to Turkish companies, organizations and prominent Turks, and numerous appearances at Turkish events in New York.
VISITS AND AGREEMENTS:
As Brooklyn borough president in 2015, Adams signed a "sisterhood" agreement between Brooklyn and Istanbul's Uskudar district that led to collaborations aimed at enhancing commercial exchange between the two cities. In a 2017 interview with a Turkish newspaper, he said he was on his fifth visit to the country and was looking to purchase a home there.
TURKISH AIRLINES:
Adams attended several Turkish Airlines events since 2017, including the 2019 celebration in Brooklyn marking 25 years of direct flights between New York and Istanbul, according to the Elite Traveler website. Cenk Ocal, the airline's former New York general manager, was a key figure at these events, and Adams praised the airline publicly, stating it was "his way of flying," Turkey's pro-government Daily Sabah newspaper reported. After becoming mayor in 2022, Adams appointed Ocal to his transition team, further solidifying his close ties to Turkish figures.
TURKISH-AMERICAN COMMUNITY:
The mayor regularly appeared at events organized by the Turkish-American community. In 2021, while meeting the Turkish-American National Steering Committee he expressed his deep connection to Turkey, saying: "I am a friend of the Turkish people here and abroad", Daily Sabah said. Other events he attended included the 2022 Turkish Day Parade and Turkish Republic Day celebrations, according to Turkey's communications directorate.
CULTURAL AND RELIGIOUS ENGAGEMENT:
Adams hosted events that catered to the Turkish and Muslim communities such as a vegan iftar meal in 2022, attended by Turkish representatives including Ocal. In 2024, he hosted another iftar, catered by Turkish restaurant owner Ali Riza Dogan, Turkey's state-owned Anadolu news agency reported.
MEDIA:
When Adams became mayor, Anadolu news agency interviewed him and said it was his first interview with the international press.