Trump explores possible Adams pardon

December 17, 2024 Brooklyn Eagle Staff

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WASHINGTON, D.C. – PRESIDENT-ELECT DONALD TRUMP at a Monday press conference expressed interest in pardoning Mayor Adams in relation to the mayor’s ongoing charges of accepting bribes, reports the Associated Press. Trump has previously expressed limited support for Adams, and has compared his own legal battles with the mayors’.

In response to a question about a potential pardon, Trump said, “Yeah, I would. I think that he was treated pretty unfairly. Now, I haven’t seen the gravity of it all, but it seems like being upgraded in an airplane many years ago, I’d say […] I’d have to see it because I don’t know the facts,” adding, “When he essentially went against what was happening with the migrants coming in, and he made some pretty strong statements like, “This is not sustainable,” I said, “You know what? He’ll be indicted soon.” […] And a few months later he got indicted. I would certainly look at it,” suggesting Adams’ prosecution may have been motivated by political retaliation from the federal government over his break with President Biden on immigration.

Adams has pleaded not guilty to bribery charges of accepting luxury gifts from the Turkish government, including flights to Turkey, in addition to illegal campaign donations, in return for favors, including allegedly intervening with the fire department to approve a Turkish consular building that had not passed inspections. Brooklyn Borough President Antonio Reynoso has said he has also been approached by Turkish officials offering luxury gifts, but turned them down.

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