Adams' Lawyers Say Prosecutors Leaked Info, Want Bribery Charge Tossed

NEW YORK CITY — Mayor Eric Adams' defense lawyers have accused federal prosecutors of leaking sensitive information as they continue to try to dismiss one of the federal bribery charges against him.

In a court filing published Friday morning, Adams' lawyer, Alex Spiro, asked US District Judge Dale Ho to hold a hearing into whether federal prosecutors leaked information to the press.

Adams' defense team is arguing the government "had a clear motive to use leaks to support its investigation, pressure current or prospective witnesses to inculpate the mayor, and create widespread belief that the mayor had committed crimes.”

Last week, federal prosecutors filed a motion putting the blame on law enforcement sources who had been quotes in news articles, including those from the New York Times, the New York Post, CNN and Fox News.

They argued law enforcement sources leaked inaccurate information and" appeared to be far-removed from the prosecution team," according to the court filing.

Adams faces one count of wire fraud, one count of conspiracy, two counts of solicitation of a contribution from a foreign national and one count of bribery, Patch previously reported.

Prosecutors allege Adams received benefits and perks from the Turkish officials, including free and discounted airline tickets and hotel accommodations.

The perks were worth more than $100,000, prosecutors said.

Spiro reiterated that "one of two things happened here."

“Either the government leaked grand jury information in violation of Rule 6(e), or multiple subjects of a criminal investigation independently leaked self-derogating information, contrary to their own self-interest," according to the court filing.

On the bribery charge, Spiro has stated that interactions with Adams and Turkish officials "were ordinary communications among officials about an important matter."

Adams' defense lawyers first brought up the possibility of leaks shortly after the initial incident was unsealed, according to multiple media reports.

"Officials, presumably in the DOJ, FBI and the city’s Department of Investigation, might have been responsible for the leak,"they wrote in Friday's court filing.

An October Marist College poll, showed that 69 percent of New Yorkers want Adams to resign, with 65 percent of people thinking Adams did something illegal, Patch previously reported.