(This article has been updated to include additional information.)

According to various reports, New York City Mayor Eric Adams faces federal criminal charges after a series of raids on the homes of his close aides and advisors earlier this month, which seems to be part of a significant corruption inquiry involving the nation’s largest city.

At the age of 64, the specific nature of the charges against Adams remains uncertain, as the indictment was kept sealed on Wednesday evening, as reported by The New York Times and FOX News, both referencing sources familiar with the situation. It is expected that the indictment will be made public on Thursday, coinciding with Adams’ potential court appearance, according to the Times.

The Times was the first to report on the indictment.

In a video message shared late Wednesday, Adams, a former police officer who became the city’s second Black mayor nearly three years ago, declared the charges to be “completely false” and pledged to contest the indictment with “every ounce of my strength and my spirit.”

“If I am charged, I know I am innocent,” Adams stated. “I will demand an immediate trial so that the residents of New York can discover the truth.”

The federal investigation scrutinizing Adams’ administration has been ongoing for about a year, focusing on potential illegal foreign contributions from Turkish officials tied to his 2021 mayoral campaign. Earlier reports from the Times indicate that grand jury subpoenas were issued by federal prosecutors to City Hall, Adams, and his campaign in July for records related to Israel, China, Qatar, South Korea, and Uzbekistan.

Just prior to the indictment’s announcement, Adams was present at a New York reception hosted at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, where President Joe Biden and First Lady Jill Biden were also in attendance. If the charges hold, Adams will become the first sitting New York City mayor to face criminal charges.

According to the city’s charter, “the mayor may be removed from office by the governor upon charges.” Should he be compelled to resign, Public Advocate Jumaane Williams would then assume the role of mayor in a city with a population of approximately 8.3 million.

Demands for Eric Adams’ Resignation from New York Lawmakers

Following the indictment news, several New York leaders and officials have called for Adams to resign. He acknowledged these demands on Wednesday but reiterated his commitment to remain in office.

“I have been contending with these falsehoods for months,” Adams asserted. “Make no mistake: you elected me to guide this city—and that is what I intend to do.”

Earlier in the day, Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, D-N.Y., urged Adams to step down.

“I don’t see how Mayor Adams can continue to govern New York City,” Ocasio-Cortez stated on X, formerly known as Twitter. “The wave of resignations and ongoing vacancies threaten governmental functions. Continuous investigations will hinder our ability to recruit and retain a competent administration.”

State Senator Jessica Ramos from Queens, who is also a candidate for mayor in 2025, expressed that the charges “feel like a deep betrayal.”

“Weeks filled with FBI raids, indictments, and resignations have rattled our city,” Ramos added in her statement. “Currently, New Yorkers feel disheartened and neglected. This situation, above all, is inexcusable.”

New York City Comptroller Brad Lander, who is also vying for the mayoral position next year, shared Ramos’ views.

“Mayor Adams is entitled to due process, the presumption of innocence, and an opportunity to defend himself. However, it’s evident that managing serious federal allegations will consume significant time and energy needed for running this great city,” Lander noted on X. “The best course of action would be for him to resign, allowing New York City to receive the full attention its leadership requires.”

State Senator Zellnor Myrie remarked that it was a “sad day” for the city and added that the indictment news is “especially painful for many Black New Yorkers who placed their trust and expectations in this Mayor.”

“We need a leader who is completely focused, without distractions, on the significant challenges before us, from housing costs to public safety,” Myrie stated. “A mayor burdened with serious charges is no longer able to fulfill that role—therefore, I am calling for his resignation.”

Indictment Amidst Political Turmoil and Resignations

In November 2023, the FBI confiscated Adams’ mobile phones and computer and executed a search warrant at the home of his campaign treasurer. In recent weeks, other prominent city officials have also resigned amid multiple federal investigations for corruption.

Police Commissioner Edward Caban stepped down on September 12, shortly after investigators from the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Manhattan seized his mobile phones. Caban was one of several of the mayor’s close aides who faced federal search warrants earlier this month, which included Deputy Mayor for Criminal Justice Philip Banks III, First Deputy Mayor Sheena Wright, and Schools Chancellor David Banks.

In the days following Caban’s resignation, Adams’ chief legal advisor Lisa Zornberg also resigned, stating that she could “no longer effectively serve” in her role. Last week, two former high-ranking New York City Fire Department chiefs were implicated in ongoing federal investigations and charged with bribery and corruption.

On Tuesday, Banks announced his retirement, which is scheduled for the end of December, following reports from the Times regarding the ongoing situation.

Federal agents have confiscated his phones.