Eric Adams' Defense Lawyer Takes an Aggressive Stance
Alex Spiro, the attorney representing the New York City mayor in a federal criminal case, criticized the prosecutors for holding “little press conferences.”
TroibNews 
NEW YORK — New York City Mayor Eric Adams is prepared to confront the allegations against him head-on.
At a press conference on Monday, Adams’ private attorney, Alex Spiro, spoke out against federal prosecutors and outlined efforts to dismiss part of the federal criminal charges facing the mayor. The case encompasses allegations of bribery, favor trading with Turkish officials, and illegal campaign contributions.
Spiro’s press event, hosted in the prestigious Quinn Emanuel law firm in Manhattan, emphasizes the mayor’s determination and suggests a significant legal confrontation between City Hall and the U.S. attorney for the Southern District of New York, which could have broader political implications.
“[I’ve] never responded to these little press conferences. But this is different,” Spiro stated, referencing a briefing held last week by Manhattan U.S. Attorney Damian Williams, during which a 57-count indictment against Adams was revealed. “They have forgotten to tell the people of New York the truth about what is going on here. That’s what I’m here to do.”
Earlier on Monday, Spiro filed a motion seeking the dismissal of the bribery charges against Adams. The five-count indictment claims that the mayor received over $100,000 in travel perks offered by individuals from the Turkish consul general’s office and Turkish Airlines. In exchange, prosecutors allege that Adams pressured city fire department officials to expedite the opening of the Turkish Embassy in Manhattan during the fall of 2021, despite existing fire safety concerns.
Spiro argued that these events do not amount to a quid-pro-quo bribery conspiracy. “This is not sufficient for federal criminal liability,” he asserted. “There is no contemporary exchange of this for that.”
He pointed out that legal precedents established by U.S. Supreme Court rulings require prosecutors to prove that a gift was in exchange for a specific promise of government action. In this instance, Spiro described the perks received by Adams as “gratuities” from Turkish officials long before the embassy's construction, implying that the incentives could not relate to the fire safety issue at hand.
Instead, he characterized the hospitality extended to Adams as customary practices intended to garner favor from politicians. “Courtesies to politicians are not federal crimes. … Congressmen get upgrades,” he noted. “They get corner suites. They get better tables at restaurants. They get free appetizers. They have their iced tea filled up.”
Additionally, Spiro maintained that the alleged pressure applied by Adams on the fire department's leaders did not occur in 2021. He argued that Adams’ outreach to then-FDNY Commissioner Dan Nigro was merely standard communication from a public servant checking on an important neighborhood project.
Regarding other charges in the indictment related to the mayor's 2021 campaign, which allegedly accepted illegal contributions from straw donors and foreign sources, Spiro contended that Adams was unaware of any illicit funds. He stated that any illegal donations were collected by Rana Abbasova, the mayor’s former liaison to the Turkish community, who he indicated would be a critical, yet unreliable, witness for the government.
Giving a presentation filled with slides, Spiro criticized the Department of Justice for what he viewed as excessive searches for evidence and predicted that the dismissal of the bribery charge would lead to the collapse of the remaining accusations. “After [the bribery count] falls away, the matching donations issue falls away, and without a crime, so does a conspiracy,” he argued. “And that’s where this will end.”
Federal prosecutors, meanwhile, see the situation differently. “This was a multiyear scheme to buy favor with a single New York City politician on the rise: Eric Adams,” Williams stated during a press conference of his own on Thursday.
The indictment outlines a series of international trips where Adams and associates allegedly received travel benefits. Additionally, Williams’ office is undertaking multiple investigations into potential corruption within City Hall.
This month, FBI agents have executed raids at the residences and seized cell phones belonging to at least six high-ranking officials within the administration and the police department. Following these developments, the schools chancellor resigned, the police commissioner was ousted, and the mayor's chief city attorney unexpectedly stepped down.
Rohan Mehta for TROIB News
At a press conference on Monday, Adams’ private attorney, Alex Spiro, spoke out against federal prosecutors and outlined efforts to dismiss part of the federal criminal charges facing the mayor. The case encompasses allegations of bribery, favor trading with Turkish officials, and illegal campaign contributions.
Spiro’s press event, hosted in the prestigious Quinn Emanuel law firm in Manhattan, emphasizes the mayor’s determination and suggests a significant legal confrontation between City Hall and the U.S. attorney for the Southern District of New York, which could have broader political implications.
“[I’ve] never responded to these little press conferences. But this is different,” Spiro stated, referencing a briefing held last week by Manhattan U.S. Attorney Damian Williams, during which a 57-count indictment against Adams was revealed. “They have forgotten to tell the people of New York the truth about what is going on here. That’s what I’m here to do.”
Earlier on Monday, Spiro filed a motion seeking the dismissal of the bribery charges against Adams. The five-count indictment claims that the mayor received over $100,000 in travel perks offered by individuals from the Turkish consul general’s office and Turkish Airlines. In exchange, prosecutors allege that Adams pressured city fire department officials to expedite the opening of the Turkish Embassy in Manhattan during the fall of 2021, despite existing fire safety concerns.
Spiro argued that these events do not amount to a quid-pro-quo bribery conspiracy. “This is not sufficient for federal criminal liability,” he asserted. “There is no contemporary exchange of this for that.”
He pointed out that legal precedents established by U.S. Supreme Court rulings require prosecutors to prove that a gift was in exchange for a specific promise of government action. In this instance, Spiro described the perks received by Adams as “gratuities” from Turkish officials long before the embassy's construction, implying that the incentives could not relate to the fire safety issue at hand.
Instead, he characterized the hospitality extended to Adams as customary practices intended to garner favor from politicians. “Courtesies to politicians are not federal crimes. … Congressmen get upgrades,” he noted. “They get corner suites. They get better tables at restaurants. They get free appetizers. They have their iced tea filled up.”
Additionally, Spiro maintained that the alleged pressure applied by Adams on the fire department's leaders did not occur in 2021. He argued that Adams’ outreach to then-FDNY Commissioner Dan Nigro was merely standard communication from a public servant checking on an important neighborhood project.
Regarding other charges in the indictment related to the mayor's 2021 campaign, which allegedly accepted illegal contributions from straw donors and foreign sources, Spiro contended that Adams was unaware of any illicit funds. He stated that any illegal donations were collected by Rana Abbasova, the mayor’s former liaison to the Turkish community, who he indicated would be a critical, yet unreliable, witness for the government.
Giving a presentation filled with slides, Spiro criticized the Department of Justice for what he viewed as excessive searches for evidence and predicted that the dismissal of the bribery charge would lead to the collapse of the remaining accusations. “After [the bribery count] falls away, the matching donations issue falls away, and without a crime, so does a conspiracy,” he argued. “And that’s where this will end.”
Federal prosecutors, meanwhile, see the situation differently. “This was a multiyear scheme to buy favor with a single New York City politician on the rise: Eric Adams,” Williams stated during a press conference of his own on Thursday.
The indictment outlines a series of international trips where Adams and associates allegedly received travel benefits. Additionally, Williams’ office is undertaking multiple investigations into potential corruption within City Hall.
This month, FBI agents have executed raids at the residences and seized cell phones belonging to at least six high-ranking officials within the administration and the police department. Following these developments, the schools chancellor resigned, the police commissioner was ousted, and the mayor's chief city attorney unexpectedly stepped down.
Rohan Mehta for TROIB News
