Mayor Eric Adams welcomed support from all Americans, including former President Donald Trump, as he fights federal bribery charges. Adams made this statement while quietly adding a former Trump White House lawyer, John Bash, to his defense team. The comments were made during Adams’ first press conference since the federal charges were filed against him. Trump had previously claimed that Adams’ stance on New York City’s migrant crisis made him a target for the federal charges.
The federal indictment unveiled against Adams accuses him of defrauding taxpayers of $10 million in matching campaign funds and taking $123,000 in bribes from Turkish officials and nationals in the form of luxury travel perks. Adams pleaded not guilty to all five counts of bribery, conspiracy, and wire fraud. Despite not having evidence, Adams insinuated that his strong stance on the migrant crisis may have put him in the political crosshairs of the federal government. Adams is scheduled to appear in court again on Wednesday.
John Bash, who was appointed by Trump to serve as US Attorney for the Western District of Texas in 2017, is now assisting Adams in his legal defense. Bash previously worked as a legal advisor in the White House during Trump’s presidency and clerked for conservative Supreme Court justices Brett Kavanaugh and Antonin Scalia. Another attorney, William “Bill” Burck, also joined Adams’ legal team. Burck had previously represented Steve Bannon, Trump’s former White House chief strategist, in a fraud case in Manhattan federal court.
It is worth noting that Bash was involved in enforcing Trump’s controversial policy of separating families at the border but pushed back against how the policy was implemented. He also served in the Solicitor General’s office during the Obama administration and argued 10 cases before the US Supreme Court. Burck, on the other hand, worked as a top lawyer in the George W. Bush White House and currently serves on the board of directors at the Fox Corporation. Trump had previously predicted that Adams would face federal charges, which he claims is similar to his own victimization by the FBI and Department of Justice.
Adams and Trump’s relationship grew tighter behind-the-scenes as Adams faces his legal battle. Despite being from different political parties, Adams and Trump now share a legal defense team. The addition of lawyers with ties to Trump’s administration may raise questions about the potential implications on Adams’ case. However, Adams continues to maintain his innocence and seeks support from all Americans during this challenging time. The next steps in his legal proceedings will shed more light on the outcomes of these high-profile federal bribery charges.
