A Brooklyn businessman linked to the indictment against New York City Mayor Eric Adams plans to plead guilty to a conspiracy charge in connection with the illegal collection of campaign contributions, court records showed on Monday.
Federal prosecutors in Manhattan said in a court filing that businessman Erden Arkan has indicated he wishes to admit to one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud for his role in funnelling “straw” donations, or contributions made in the name of someone other than the true donor, to Adams’ successful 2021 mayoral campaign.
The guilty plea could bolster prosecutors’ case, which is scheduled to go to trial starting April 21.
Alex Spiro, a lawyer for Adams, did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Nicholas Biase, a spokesperson for the U.S. Attorney’s office in Manhattan, declined to comment.
Jonathan Rosen, a lawyer for Arkan, declined to comment.
New York Mayor Adams in September pleaded not guilty to charges he accepted more than $90,000 in discounted luxury hotel stays and flight upgrades from Turkish officials in exchange for pressuring city fire officials in 2021 to let Turkey open its new consulate in Manhattan despite safety concerns.
Adams was also accused of seeking and accepting illegal contributions from foreign nationals to his campaign.
Prosecutors had previously described Arkan as a prominent member of New York City’s Turkish community who made straw donations to Adams at the request of a Turkish official.
President-elect Donald Trump last week said he would consider pardoning Adams after he takes office on Jan. 20. Trump, a Republican, suggested Adams was targeted for criticizing President Joe Biden’s handling of migration, one of Trump’s signature campaign issues.
Separately, Trump urged the Biden administration to halt the sale of unused sections of the border wall that were bought but not installed during his first term.
“Yes, I would” consider pardoning Adams, Trump told reporters at his Mar-a-Lago club in Florida, on Dec. 16 though he added that he was not familiar with the details of the charges Adams faces.
(With inputs from Reuters)
