The mayor of New York City, Eric Adams, was indicted on five federal charges of bribery, fraud and soliciting illegal foreign campaign donations that prosecutors said began at least a decade ago and continued after he became mayor. He’s the first sitting mayor in the city’s history to be criminally charged.

Damian Williams, the U.S. attorney prosecuting the case, said that Adams — a retired police captain who was elected as a Democrat in 2021 on a pledge to reduce crime — was “showered” with over $100,000 in gifts that he knew were illegal. Those include free airline tickets, lavish overseas accommodations and campaign donations from Turkey.

In return, Williams said, Adams used his influence as Brooklyn borough president, then later as mayor, to aide Turkish officials. Most notably, prosecutors argued, Adams pressured officials at the Fire Department to permit a new Turkish consulate building in Manhattan despite safety problems.

In a news conference, Adams insisted that he was innocent and vowed to fight the charges. “I ask New Yorkers to wait to hear our defense,” he said. Adams was ordered to be arraigned tomorrow, but he said he would not resign despite a cascade of elected officials calling on him to do so.

For more:

• We explained all of the charges against Adams and the numerous investigations into people in the mayor’s orbit.

• Adams promised to be a mayor like no other. He turned out to be right.

• Many New Yorkers are now wondering: What happens next?