New York City Mayor Eric Adams (D) made his first remarks in public on Thursday after the federal indictment against him was unsealed and law enforcement officials raided his home.
Adams, who faces decades behind bars if convicted, was charged in a sprawling corruption probe that alleged he acted as an official of a foreign power, accepted bribes, committed fraud, and conspired to commit all the crimes.
“I want to thank you for being here this morning, and I want to thank the supporters of all ethnic groups that are here, particularly the men and women of the clergy that’s here that have joined me here today,” he told a group of supporters at a press conference. “And we are not surprised. We expected this. This is not surprising to us at all. The actions that have unfolded over the last 10 months, the leaks, the commentary, the demonizing. This did not surprise us that we reached this day.”
He asked that New Yorkers wait to pass judgment until they have heard his side of the story.
“From here, my attorneys will take care of the case so I can take care of the city,” he said. “My day to day will not change. I will continue to do the job for 8.3 million New Yorkers that I was elected to do. And the 300,000 plus employees of our city government will continue to do their jobs, because this is what we do as New Yorkers.”
He said that it was an insult to the people of the city that people were claiming that he and his administration would be unable to do their jobs while the case moves forward.
“They are dedicated public servants, and I have been one of them for many years, and they are going to continue to do their job, moving the city forward every day,” he added. “It’s an unfortunate day and it’s a painful day.”
WATCH:
No comments: