New York Mayor Eric Adams, who was charged with federal corruption last year, traveled to Mar-a-Lago on Thursday to meet with President-elect Donald Trump. According to The New York Times, the meeting was not listed on the mayor’s public schedule.
Fabien Levy, the mayor’s spokesperson, said in an email to the *Times*, “Mayor Adams is ready to work with President-elect Trump and his team to support New Yorkers. For New York City to succeed, we need a strong partnership with the federal government.”
Adams was indicted in September on several serious charges, including acting as an unregistered agent for the Turkish government. The charges claim that Adams used his position as mayor to take actions that benefited foreign donors who gave him campaign contributions. These actions violated federal laws.
The Department of Justice explained the charges in detail. Adams, who is 64 and from Brooklyn, was accused of conspiracy to receive illegal campaign contributions, wire fraud, bribery, and soliciting money from foreign donors. Each charge carries a potential prison sentence, with the most serious charge, wire fraud, carrying up to 20 years in prison.
Despite the charges, Mayor Adams has not let them stop him from working. He has said in the past that he would consider asking for a presidential pardon if necessary. A pardon from the president could prevent him from facing jail time.
Levy also said, “The mayor is looking forward to having a productive conversation with President-elect Trump about ways they can work together to help both New York City and the country move forward.”
Adams and Trump previously interacted in October at the Al Smith Dinner, a major political event in New York. At the dinner, Trump joked about Adams’ legal troubles, saying, “Mayor Adams, good luck with everything. What they’ve done to me is much worse, so don’t worry—you’ll be okay.”
While the charges against Adams are serious, his willingness to meet with Trump and seek federal support shows his focus on helping New York City during a challenging time.
