Eric Adams to run for NYC mayor as independent after clearing corruption allegations

Eric Adams decided to skip the primaries and focus on the general election as an independent candidate after the corruption charges were dismissed.

"I have always put New York’s people before politics and party - and I always will. I am running for mayor in the general election because our city needs independent leadership that understands working people," Adams wrote in his statement on the social media platform X.

Earlier, the mayor was accused of corruption: prosecutors claimed that for nearly a decade, he accepted expensive plane tickets and luxury hotel accommodations from Turkish nationals while serving in local government positions.

However, US District Judge Dale Ho ruled to drop the case, noting that continuing the prosecution could disrupt city governance and federal immigration initiatives.

Independent campaign and confidence in support

Adams emphasized that after the charges were dropped, he is ready to launch a full-fledged independent campaign.

Despite maintaining his Democratic views, he will skip the primaries and appeal directly to voters. "I know that the accusations may have shaken your confidence in me, and I regret that I trusted people I should not have," he said in a video on the X platform.

The mayor also noted that despite political pressure, his administration continued its work: "While they were playing politics or sitting back, my team was building record levels of housing, reducing crime, distributing $30 billion in assistance to low- and middle-income New Yorkers, and creating more jobs than ever before in our city's history."

Despite political challenges, Adams remains confident in his candidacy and the support of New Yorkers.

Recently, Istanbul Mayor Ekrem İmamoğlu also faced a corruption scandal - he was arrested on charges of corruption and aiding a terrorist organization.