A witness not too long ago testified earlier than the federal grand jury that indicted Mayor Adams on corruption costs this fall, his lawyer revealed in a court docket submitting Tuesday — indicating the Turkey-related investigation into the mayor continues to be very energetic.
The submitting from Alex Spiro, Adams’ lead protection lawyer, recognized the witness by initials. The initials have been redacted from the submitting, making the identification of the witness unclear.
Spiro did write {that a} “credible source” advised him this previous Sunday that the New York Instances has confirmed the identification of the witness “who recently testified before the grand jury and the sum and substance of that witness’s testimony.” As of late Tuesday morning, The Instances had not printed any story about new grand jury testimony within the Adams probe.
Mayor Eric Adams, proper, outdoors Manhattan Federal Court docket along with his lawyer, Alex Spiro, after pleading not responsible on a number of corruption costs on Sept. 27. (Barry Williams for New York Every day Information)
Although Manhattan Federal Court docket Choose Dale Ho already rejected a request from Spiro final month for an evidentiary listening to into his claims about unlawful grand jury leaks from prosecutors, Spiro says the decide ought to rethink in gentle of the newest alleged disclosures.
Reiterating his previous request, Spiro wrote in his new submitting that Ho ought to sanction prosecutors over the alleged leaks “up to and including dismissal of the indictment.” He additionally wrote that the decide ought to put an indefinite pause on all grand jury proceedings till an evidentiary listening to may be held.
“To prevent further inevitable leaks, the Court should exercise its equitable powers and halt any further grand jury proceedings pending the hearing and resolution of this motion,” he wrote.
A spokesman fort the Manhattan U.S. lawyer’s workplace, which indicted Adams, didn’t instantly return a request for remark.
New York Metropolis Mayor Eric Adams provides a thumbs up as he departs federal court docket in New York Metropolis on Oct. 2. (Picture by CHARLY TRIBALLEAU/AFP through Getty Photos)
The grand jury indicted Adams in September on 5 felony counts alleging he solicited bribes and unlawful marketing campaign money, principally from Turkish authorities operatives, in change for political favors. Adams has pleaded not responsible and is anticipated to face trial in April — simply weeks earlier than he faces a number of challengers in June’s Democratic mayoral main.
Spiro’s newest submitting comes after prosecutors from the Manhattan U.S. lawyer’s workplace stated in open court docket in October they have been “quite likely” to convey a superseding indictment charging the mayor with extra crimes.
The revelation that the grand jury has heard extra testimony in current weeks suggests prosecutors are nonetheless pursuing new proof.
Manhattan feds wrote in a submitting Monday that Erden Arkan, a Turkish-born businessman referenced in Adams’ indictment as one in every of his co-conspirators, has knowledgeable them he plans to plead responsible to his position in funneling unlawful straw donations to the mayor’s 2021 marketing campaign on behalf of the Turkish authorities.
Arkan hasn’t returned requests for remark this week.
With Josephine Stratman
Initially Printed: December 24, 2024 at 11:11 AM EST
