New York City Mayor Eric Adams is fighting back against the bribery charge in his federal indictment, filing a motion on Monday to have the charge thrown out. Adams’ legal team argued that prosecutors have failed to present evidence that meets the high standard set by a recent U.S. Supreme Court ruling.
The motion comes shortly after Adams pled not guilty to five charges, including conspiracy to commit wire fraud, wire fraud, bribery, and soliciting foreign donations.
Adams Asks To Toss Bribery Charge : Adams Points to Supreme Court Ruling
Adams’ legal team pointed to the Supreme Court’s decision in Snyder v. U.S., which clarified the requirements for proving bribery under federal law. In Snyder, the justices ruled that gifts or rewards given after an official act don’t necessarily violate the law unless there is clear evidence of a quid pro quo arrangement.
Adams’ filing emphasized that prosecutors have not shown any explicit agreement between the mayor and Turkish officials to exchange gifts for official actions. “The indictment does not allege any specific exchanges or conversations in which Adams and the Turkish official entered into this purported quid pro quo agreement,” said Adams’ attorney Alex Spiro.
