Indicted Democrat Eric Adams Set for Meeting with Trump at Mar-a-Lago — Potential Pardon on the Table
The trip arrives at a time when Adams is facing federal corruption charges, occurring just days before the inauguration of the president-elect.
TroibNews 
**NEW YORK** — Mayor Eric Adams is scheduled to meet with President-elect Donald Trump on Friday in Mar-a-Lago, as he faces ongoing federal corruption charges.
With Trump's swearing-in just three days away, he holds the authority to grant pardons that could impact Adams.
Flying to Florida to engage with the Republican president at his residence, which serves as a transitional headquarters, poses a considerable political risk for the Democratic mayor, who is under pressure to secure his position this election year. This meeting follows Adams' previous decisions to diverge from fellow Democrats and engage Trump positively, while he has publicly criticized outgoing President Joe Biden regarding his immigration policies.
In response to the New York Times report on the meeting, Fabien Levy, a senior aide to Adams, emphasized that collaboration with the incoming Trump administration is crucial for the city’s success.
Levy notably did not reference Adams' looming legal challenges stemming from a five-count federal indictment. The charges, related to bribery and a straw donation scheme, were brought against him in September, and he has pleaded not guilty. Adams' trial is set for April, strategically two months before the Democratic primary.
This legal case has drained millions of dollars in matching campaign funds and left him deeply indebted to his legal team. His approval ratings were already low before the indictment and have continued to decline since.
“Mayor Adams has made quite clear his willingness to work with President-elect Trump and his incoming administration on behalf of New Yorkers — and that partnership with the federal government is critical to New York City's success,” Levy asserted. “Tomorrow, Mayor Adams will sit down with President-elect Trump and discuss New Yorkers’ priorities. The mayor looks forward to having a productive conversation with the incoming president on how we can move our city and country forward.”
Despite efforts by Adams' team to separate this meeting from his legal troubles, his political opponents are unlikely to overlook it.
“Who is this meeting for, New Yorkers or Eric Adams?” questioned former City Comptroller Scott Stringer, who is vying against Adams in the Democratic primary. “Our city has too many problems right now for us to worry about if he’s fighting for New Yorkers or a hypothetical pardon for himself.”
Comptroller Brad Lander added, "Eric Adams should state immediately that he will not seek or accept a pardon from Donald Trump. New Yorkers deserve to know that their mayor is putting their interests ahead of his own — and whether our tax dollars, or Turkish Airlines, will be financing his trip to Florida.”
Trump has shown a willingness to consider pardoning Adams, asserting that both men are facing similarly unfounded charges from a politicized Department of Justice—an opinion that Adams shares. He has repeatedly claimed that his criticism of Biden has made him a target, suggesting an organized effort against him, despite acknowledging that it may not come directly from Biden himself.
“I was targeted because of my stance to protect the city from the migrants and asylum seeker issues that we were facing,” Adams stated during a recent appearance on a local ABC affiliate. “And I have a legal team that [is] going to pursue every avenue to get the justice that I deserve.”
According to reports, there are various ways Trump could support the New York City mayor.
Each interaction with Trump, even without accepting a pardon, could carry substantial repercussions for Adams as he navigates a challenging road to reelection. Aligning with the GOP figure could provoke considerable backlash among voters weighing their support for Adams' second term, and it is likely to be utilized as a point of contention by his opponents.
“The flirting with Trump is not helpful for him in the Black community,” Al Sharpton remarked recently. “If I was between a rock and a hard place and the only one that could deliver me is Donald Trump I would be preparing for my bye-bye.”
Sharpton referred to Adams hosting Trump’s border czar, Tom Homan, at Gracie Mansion, where they explored potential revisions to New York’s sanctuary city laws that dictate the relationship between the NYPD and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement.
Adams, identifying as a moderate often at odds with the more progressive elements of his party, also recently dined with a Trump surrogate from Long Island.
Sophie Wagner contributed to this report for TROIB News
With Trump's swearing-in just three days away, he holds the authority to grant pardons that could impact Adams.
Flying to Florida to engage with the Republican president at his residence, which serves as a transitional headquarters, poses a considerable political risk for the Democratic mayor, who is under pressure to secure his position this election year. This meeting follows Adams' previous decisions to diverge from fellow Democrats and engage Trump positively, while he has publicly criticized outgoing President Joe Biden regarding his immigration policies.
In response to the New York Times report on the meeting, Fabien Levy, a senior aide to Adams, emphasized that collaboration with the incoming Trump administration is crucial for the city’s success.
Levy notably did not reference Adams' looming legal challenges stemming from a five-count federal indictment. The charges, related to bribery and a straw donation scheme, were brought against him in September, and he has pleaded not guilty. Adams' trial is set for April, strategically two months before the Democratic primary.
This legal case has drained millions of dollars in matching campaign funds and left him deeply indebted to his legal team. His approval ratings were already low before the indictment and have continued to decline since.
“Mayor Adams has made quite clear his willingness to work with President-elect Trump and his incoming administration on behalf of New Yorkers — and that partnership with the federal government is critical to New York City's success,” Levy asserted. “Tomorrow, Mayor Adams will sit down with President-elect Trump and discuss New Yorkers’ priorities. The mayor looks forward to having a productive conversation with the incoming president on how we can move our city and country forward.”
Despite efforts by Adams' team to separate this meeting from his legal troubles, his political opponents are unlikely to overlook it.
“Who is this meeting for, New Yorkers or Eric Adams?” questioned former City Comptroller Scott Stringer, who is vying against Adams in the Democratic primary. “Our city has too many problems right now for us to worry about if he’s fighting for New Yorkers or a hypothetical pardon for himself.”
Comptroller Brad Lander added, "Eric Adams should state immediately that he will not seek or accept a pardon from Donald Trump. New Yorkers deserve to know that their mayor is putting their interests ahead of his own — and whether our tax dollars, or Turkish Airlines, will be financing his trip to Florida.”
Trump has shown a willingness to consider pardoning Adams, asserting that both men are facing similarly unfounded charges from a politicized Department of Justice—an opinion that Adams shares. He has repeatedly claimed that his criticism of Biden has made him a target, suggesting an organized effort against him, despite acknowledging that it may not come directly from Biden himself.
“I was targeted because of my stance to protect the city from the migrants and asylum seeker issues that we were facing,” Adams stated during a recent appearance on a local ABC affiliate. “And I have a legal team that [is] going to pursue every avenue to get the justice that I deserve.”
According to reports, there are various ways Trump could support the New York City mayor.
Each interaction with Trump, even without accepting a pardon, could carry substantial repercussions for Adams as he navigates a challenging road to reelection. Aligning with the GOP figure could provoke considerable backlash among voters weighing their support for Adams' second term, and it is likely to be utilized as a point of contention by his opponents.
“The flirting with Trump is not helpful for him in the Black community,” Al Sharpton remarked recently. “If I was between a rock and a hard place and the only one that could deliver me is Donald Trump I would be preparing for my bye-bye.”
Sharpton referred to Adams hosting Trump’s border czar, Tom Homan, at Gracie Mansion, where they explored potential revisions to New York’s sanctuary city laws that dictate the relationship between the NYPD and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement.
Adams, identifying as a moderate often at odds with the more progressive elements of his party, also recently dined with a Trump surrogate from Long Island.
Sophie Wagner contributed to this report for TROIB News
