Spiro further argued that if prosecutors had such evidence, they would have included it in the indictment.
Allegations of Official Favor for Turkish Consulate
Prosecutors claim that for nearly a decade, Adams solicited over $100,000 in bribes from Turkish officials and businesses. The alleged bribes included luxury airline upgrades and hotel stays in exchange for political favors, such as helping the Turkish Consulate open on time for President Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s visit.
However, Adams’ legal team dismissed this claim, arguing that the three messages Adams allegedly sent to facilitate the consulate opening were routine and do not amount to an official act of bribery. “These innocuous messages fall far short of the kind of ‘official act’ necessary for bribery,” Spiro said.
Adams Asks To Toss Bribery Charge : Campaign Finance Allegations Not Challenged
While Adams seeks to dismiss the bribery charge, his filing did not request the court to drop the charges related to illegal campaign donations. Prosecutors accuse Adams of knowingly accepting campaign contributions from foreign nationals and corporations, which he allegedly funneled through “straw donors” to hide their origin.
