Seated beside his attorney, Alex Spiro of Quinn Emanuel Urquhart & Sullivan LLP, Adams remained stoic, avoiding eye contact with the press. The courtroom was filled with media, clerks, and prosecutors, while Adams’ security team sat nearby.
Judge Parker agreed to release Adams on his own signature but warned him against speaking with witnesses identified by prosecutors. She also cautioned that any attempt to intimidate jurors or interfere with investigations could result in additional charges.
Interestingly, Adams was not required to surrender his passport, a condition imposed on others facing similar charges, such as former Sen. Robert Menendez. However, he was granted “reasonable accommodations” to communicate with staff and family on personal or business matters, per prosecutor Celia V. Cohen.
Eric Adams Pleads Not Guilty : Next Steps in the Case
Adams’ next court appearance is scheduled for Wednesday before U.S. District Judge Dale E. Ho. Outside the courthouse, Spiro criticized the charges, referring to them as “the airline upgrade corruption case,” and emphasized that there is no corroborating evidence—such as emails or texts—proving Adams’ knowledge of the campaign donation scheme.
