(NewsNation) — New York City Mayor Eric Adams has been indicted by a federal grand jury on criminal charges that are still sealed, according to two people familiar with the matter.
The charges against Adams, a Democrat, were still sealed late Wednesday, according to the sources who spoke with The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to discuss the matter publicly.
Adams is a retired police captain who was elected as New York City’s 110th mayor nearly three years ago. The indictment makes Adams the first sitting New York City mayor to face criminal charges.
Weeks ago, federal authorities seized phones from many top officials in New York City government including Adams’ top aide, the schools chancellor and the police commissioner.
The indictment was first reported by The New York Times. The U.S. attorney’s office in Manhattan declined to comment.
In a statement to NewsNation Wednesday night, Adams maintained his innocence.
“I always knew that If I stood my ground for New Yorkers that I would be a target—and a target I became. If I am charged, I am innocent and I will fight this with every ounce of my strength and spirit,” Adams said.
The indictment marks a stunning fall for Adams, a former police captain who was elected to become the second Black mayor of the nation’s largest city on a platform that promised a law-and-order approach to reducing crime.
For much of the last year, Adams has faced growing legal peril, with multiple federal investigations into top advisers producing a drumbeat of subpoenas, searches and high-level departures that has thrust City Hall into crisis.
He had repeatedly said he wasn’t aware of any wrongdoing, dismissing speculation that he would face charges as “rumors and innuendo,” and vowing as recently as Wednesday afternoon to stay in office.
“The people of this city elected me to fight for them, and I will stay and fight no matter what,” Adams said.
The federal investigations into his administration first emerged publicly Nov. 2, 2023, when FBI agents conducted an early morning raid on the Brooklyn home of Adams’ chief fundraiser, Brianna Suggs.
At the time, Adams insisted he followed the law and said he would be “shocked” if anyone on his campaign had acted illegally.
“I cannot tell you how much I start the day with telling my team, ‘We’ve got to follow the law,’” he told reporters at the time.
Days later, FBI agents seized the mayor’s phones and iPad as he was leaving an event in Manhattan. The interaction was disclosed several days later by the mayor’s attorney.
On Sept. 4, federal investigators seized electronic devices from the city’s police commissioner, schools chancellor, deputy mayor of public safety, first deputy mayor and other trusted confidantes of Adams both in and out of City Hall.
Federal prosecutors declined to discuss the investigations but people familiar with elements of the cases described multiple, separate inquiries involving senior Adams aides, relatives of those aides, campaign fundraising and possible influence peddling of the police and fire departments.
Who has resigned?
Edward Caban, the city’s former police commissioner, resigned in early September — one week after investigators seized his phone.
Federal officials seized phones from Caban and two New York police lieutenants who worked in the commissioner’s office and on his detail, sources told Nexstar’s WPIX. Officials also took devices from the home of Caban’s twin brother, James Caban — a former police officer who now runs a nightlife consulting business, according to the AP.
Adams’ top legal adviser Lisa Zornberg also resigned abruptly around that time. Zornberg is a former federal prosecutor in the U.S. attorney’s office and leads some of the investigative efforts into the Adams administration. Officials did not seize her phone, the AP reported.
NewsNation’s Katie Smith and the Associated Press contributed to this report.
This story is developing.