President-elect Trump said Monday he would consider pardoning New York Mayor Eric Adams, who is the subject of a federal investigation into allegations of corruption and bribery.
“Yes, I would,” Trump said during a press conference at Mar-a-Lago. “I think he was treated quite unfairly.”
A federal indictment accuses Adams of doing so soliciting illegal campaign donations of foreign entities and falsifying paper trails to cover them up. He is alleged to have defrauded taxpayers of $10 million over the past decade and regularly took advantage of free or heavily discounted vacations financed by his foreign benefactors.
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On Monday, President-elect Trump said he would consider pardoning New York Mayor Eric Adams. (Getty Images)
“I don’t know the facts,” Trump added. “I would definitely look into it.”
Fox News Digital has contacted Adams’ office.
During his remarks, Trump downplayed allegations that Adams accepted free luxury travel and airline upgrades from Turkish officials.
“Upgraded to an airplane many years ago?” Trump said. “I doubt there’s anyone here who hasn’t upgraded.”
“It seems, you know, like you’ve been upgraded on an airplane many years ago — I know probably everyone here has been upgraded,” he added. “They see that you’re all stars, they say, ‘I want to upgrade that person from NBC,’ and that would mean you’re going to spend the rest of your life in prison,” he said.
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Trump said Adams was targeted because of his strong stance illegal immigration and the impact it has had on New York City.
“I said, ‘He’s going to be indicted,’” Trump said. “And a few months later he was indicted.”
Last week, Adams was introduced to Trump’s choice for border tsarTom Homan, to discuss the migrant crisis. After the meeting, Adams said the discussion was very productive.
“From what I heard from the new head of ICE (US Immigration and Customs Enforcement) is that we have the same desire to go after those who commit acts of violence, repeated acts of violence among innocent New Yorkers and among asylum seekers,” Adams said . told reporters. ‘I heard that from him. And I liked hearing that, because we share the same desire.’
Adams has denied any wrongdoing. In November, he dismissed claims that he was joining Trump in seeking a pardon.
He was asked about the issue during an appearance on “The View.”
Incoming border czar Tom Homan met with New York Mayor Eric Adams in the Big Apple on Thursday, where they discussed the city’s ongoing migrant crisis and ways to deport criminal illegal migrants terrorizing the city’s streets. (Bill Clark/CQ-Roll Call, Inc via Getty Images, left and Lev Radin/Pacific Press/LightRocket via Getty Images, right.)
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“I don’t think anything is more challenging than not being able to defend yourself in public,” he responded, avoiding the Trump part of the question.
“Listen, I’ve said it over and over again. “I didn’t do anything wrong,” he continued.
