FBI ‘misunderstands the law,’ Mayor Adams claims as he tries to spread bribery fraud in landmark corruption case

Lawyers for Eric Adams argued Friday that Manhattan federal prosecutors “misunderstand” the law and are using a “jerry-rigged bribery theory” to charge the mayor — as they urged a judge to throw out part of the law . historic corruption case against him.

Attorney Alex Spiro argued that the FBI has not shown that Adams broke the law — even though it is true that he picked up $123,000 in free or discounted travel benefits in exchange for allegedly pressuring the fire department to close the opening of the Turkish Consulate in Manhattan. building.

“The government has not presented facts beyond ordinary communications between officials on an important issue – a visit by the president of a country of more than 80 million people,” Spiro wrote in a 16-page motion.

“If this charge is sufficient, prosecutors can almost always avoid the Supreme Court’s constitutionally based restrictions on bribery statutes by characterizing everyday activities as ‘busy’.”

The legal filing is in response to the Last week’s FBI motion quashing Adams’ claim that the luxury treats presented to him by Turkish diplomats and businessmen were ‘routine’ perks for politicians.

Adams’ attorneys are trying to get Manhattan federal court Judge Dale Ho to drop the charge of “soliciting and accepting bribes” — which is just one of five charges Hizzoner faces in the first indictment once filed against a sitting mayor of New York City.

The mayor is separately charged with fraud for allegedly funneling foreign contributions to his 2021 campaign through illegal “straw donors” in the city, allowing him to receive $10 million in public matching funds. He is also accused of illegally soliciting donations from foreigners.

The judge has set a court date for next Friday, November 1, for both sides to discuss the bribery charge before he makes a ruling.

The mayor’s lawyers separately urged the judge Friday to order a hearing to investigate whether the FBI in the Southern District of New York violated grand jury secrecy rules by sharing information about the investigation and the news that Adams has been indicted to reporters.

Spiro argued that media coverage of the case before Adams’ indictment was made public — including stories in the New York Times, The Post and CNN — reflects a “clear pattern… of explicit law enforcement sources.”

He said there is enough evidence that the government was behind the alleged leaks to warrant a hearing.

But the FBI said Adams did not show any evidence that the prosecution team was responsible for the details about the investigation that emerged in published reports.

The four members of the prosecution team – Hagan Scotten, Celia Cohen, Andrew Rohrbach and Derek Wikstrom – and agents from the FBI and the city’s Department of Investigation all swore to Margery Feinzig, the deputy chief of the SDNY’s criminal division, that they would not have done. disclosed information about the case to the press, court papers show.

The FBI also said in an Oct. 18 filing that certain details about the investigation that emerged in the media — such as the existence of search warrants and subpoenas — were known to people outside the prosecution team.

Prosecutors also said their office had informed several people about the pending indictment against Adams, including courthouse staff and Justice Department officials in Washington, DC.

They argued that at least one article on the case, a November 11, 2023 story in The Post, was the result of alleged leaks by Adams’ camp, and not the FBI.

The judge said the court may use the date of November 1 to hold oral arguments on the leak question, as well as the dispute over the bribery charge.

Adams, 64, has pleaded not guilty to all charges he faces and has vowed to remain in office as the case plays out.