Eric Adams hopes next Manhattan fed prosecutor understands how important justice is as NYC mayor fends off terrifying corruption case
Mayor Eric Adams hopes President-elect Donald Trump’s pick for Manhattan US Attorney “understands how important justice is,” he said Tuesday — while describing his experience facing a historic federal indictment as “terrifying.”Adams, during his weekly off-topic briefing at City Hall, was asked about former Securities and Exchange Commission Chairman Jay Clayton, Trump’s nominee to take over as head of the powerful Southern District of New York.“I am hoping that the next prosecutor that comes in understands how important justice is in this country and what it means to Americans,” he said.“I think the system of justice must be fair.”Adams, who faces a five-count indictment charging him with bribery and corruption, added that: “I don’t think any American should go through what I’ve gone through.”“This is terrifying for an American to go through, particularly one who committed his life to serving this city,” he told reporters.It comes a day after Manhattan US Attorney Damian Williams, who brought the ongoing case against Adams, announced he would step down from his post on Dec.
13 — avoiding being shown the door by the incoming White House administration.The SDNY under Williams charged Adams about three years into its probe onto the mayor’s 2021 campaign, accusing him of of accepting luxury travel perks as bribes in exchange for helping foreign governments with messaging and bureaucratic red tape.Adams, who has pleaded not guilty and denied the accusations, faces a Dec.20 status hearing in the case.Trump has repeatedly questioned the case, accusing Williams of being overzealous and claiming Adams was being targeted by President Biden’s Department of Justice for speaking out about the migrant crisis.It’s not year clear how Clayton, whose nomination requires US Senate approval, would move forward with the first federal prosecution of a sitting New York City mayor.Until then, Williams’ deputy, Edward Y.
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