The legal professional representing Mayor Eric Adams in his historic federal corruption case joined the board of administrators of a Turkish transportation app, the corporate introduced Friday.
Alex Spiro was elected to the board of Marti Applied sciences, described as Turkey’s “leading mobility super app,” on the firm’s 2024 annual shareholder assembly, in line with a press launch.
Spiro joins the Istanbul-based ride-hailing app as he concurrently represents Adams in New York for allegedly accepting bribes from Turkish nationals in alternate for fast-tracking constructing inspections for the brand new Turkish consulate constructing situated within the Turtle Bay neighborhood of Manhattan.
Spiro didn’t instantly reply to The Submit’s request for touch upon Wednesday, nor did Metropolis Corridor.
Within the press launch, Spiro, who’s a accomplice at Quinn Emanuel Urquhart & Sullivan LLP, mentioned he’s excited to assist the Turkish firm’s management crew.
“I am pleased to support them and the company as we reach scale and achieve profitability in 2025,” Spiro mentioned.
The movie star legal professional is thought for repping high-profile purchasers from Alec Baldwin to Jay-Z.
“I have had the good fortune of working with some of the greatest entrepreneurs and companies in the world,” learn a press release from Spiro after the election of the board.
Adams stands accused of accepting greater than $100,000 value of flight upgrades on Turkish Airways and resort upgrades throughout frequent visits to Istanbul over 5 years.
Federal officers have additionally accused Adams of receiving phony “straw donations” from Turkish nationals for the mayor’s 2021 marketing campaign after which utilizing the unlawful donations to get $10 million in taxpayer-funded matching marketing campaign funds.
In alternate for the ritzy perks and donations, prosecutors allege Adams pressured the FDNY to permit the consulate constructing, dubbed Turkish Home, to open although it hadn’t handed a hearth inspection.
Hizzoner has repeatedly denied any wrongdoing and refused to step down amid the allegations. He pleaded not responsible and mentioned he plans to struggle the fees in courtroom subsequent 12 months.
“It takes a great deal of discipline to not say something when you know you’ve done nothing wrong,” Adams mentioned in August when requested in regards to the mayoral marketing campaign investigation.
Erden Arkan, the Turkish-born proprietor of KSK Development Group in Williamsburg, who allegedly showered Adams with the unlawful straw donations, is anticipated to plead responsible within the corruption case, federal officers mentioned Monday.
