President-elect Trump on Monday said he would consider pardoning New York City Mayor Eric Adams, who is the subject of a federal investigation into corruption and bribery charges.
“Yes, I would,” Trump said during a news conference at Mar-a-Lago. “I think he was treated quite unfairly.”
A federal indictment accuses Adams of solicit illegal campaign donations from foreign entities and falsifying documentary trails to cover them up. He allegedly defrauded taxpayers of $10 million over the past decade and frequently took free or heavily discounted vacations funded by his foreign benefactors.
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On Monday, President-elect Trump said he would consider a pardon for New York City Mayor Eric Adams. (Getty Images)
“I don’t know the facts,” Trump added. “I would definitely look at it.”
Fox News Digital reached out to Adams’ office.
During his remarks, Trump downplayed allegations that Adams accepted free luxury travel and airline upgrades from Turkish officials.
“Been upgraded into a plane many years ago?” Trump said. “I doubt there’s anyone here who hasn’t been updated.”
“It looks, you know, like it was upgraded on a plane many years ago; I know probably everyone here has been upgraded,” he added. “They see that you’re stars and say, ‘I want to make that person at NBC better,’ 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 attacked because of his strong stance on illegal immigration and the impact it has had on New York City.
“I said, ‘They’re going to impeach him,'” Trump said. “And a few months later, he was charged.”
Last week, Adams met with Trump’s pick. for the border tsarTom Homan, to discuss the immigration crisis. After the meeting, Adams said the discussion was very productive.
“From what I heard from the incoming head of ICE (U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement) is that we have the same desire to go after those who are committing violent acts, repeated violent acts among innocent New Yorkers and among asylum seekers. immigration asylum,” Adams told reporters. “That’s what I heard from him. And I was happy to hear that, because we share the same desire.”
Adams has denied any wrongdoing. In November, he rejected claims that he was siding with Trump to obtain a pardon.
He was asked about that issue during an appearance on “The View.”
Incoming border czar Tom Homan met with New York City Mayor Eric Adams in the Big Apple on Thursday, where they discussed the city’s ongoing immigration crisis and ways to deport criminal illegal immigrants who They have been terrorizing the city 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 think there’s nothing more challenging than not being able to defend yourself in public,” he responded, avoiding the Trump part of the question.
“Listen, I said it over and over again. I didn’t do anything wrong,” he continued.
