On the morning of September 27, New York City Mayor Eric Adams made a noteworthy appearance at the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York, where he faced five charges, which he firmly denied. After a brief hearing, he was granted bail under the condition that he refrain from contacting anyone involved in the case. On the same day, federal investigators conducted a search at the home of his chief advisor, Ingrid Lewis-Martin.
Originally, Adams was set to arrive at the courthouse around noon, but he appeared early, around 8:50 AM. Dressed in a dark blue suit and a red tie, he kept a serious expression as he passed by the media, giving them a thumbs-up without any verbal comments. Approximately four hours later, around 12:45 PM, he exited the courtroom and once again acknowledged the media with a thumbs-up.
Reports from the New York Times indicate that the court proceedings themselves lasted less than 20 minutes. During the hearing, Adams confirmed that he understood his rights and had read the 57-page indictment against him, although he chose not to have the document read aloud in court.
An agreement was reached between the prosecution and Adams’ attorney, Alex Spiro, allowing for Adams’ release after he signed the necessary documents. Magistrate Judge Katharine Parker approved the release without requiring him to surrender his passport. Adams’ next court date is set for October 2.
Speaking briefly to reporters outside the courthouse, Spiro asserted Adams’ innocence. “This isn’t a legitimate case at all,” he claimed.
Despite the surrounding turmoil, Adams aimed to maintain a semblance of normalcy in his schedule. It was reported that he met with city officials at 8:00 and 8:30 AM and had plans for two additional meetings later in the day, at around 3:30 and 4:00 PM.
When asked about the possibility of Adams resigning, Governor Kathy Hochul released a statement the evening before, saying she had reviewed the indictment but had yet to make a decision regarding Adams’ future. “I hope the mayor takes the next few days to consider how best to serve the people of New York City with strong leadership,” she expressed.
On the same day Adams appeared in court, federal investigators visited Lewis-Martin’s home, where they seized her phone and issued a subpoena from the grand jury. Lewis-Martin is regarded as one of Adams’ closest aides.
Currently, Adams is facing five federal charges connected to bribery, fraud, and the illicit solicitation of foreign campaign contributions. Prosecutors allege that his involvement in these activities began during his time as Brooklyn Borough President and has continued into his mayoralty. He previously delivered a brief speech, asserting that all accusations against him are “lies” and emphasizing his intention not to resign.
