Updated at 2:22 P.M. E.D.T.

Eric Adams, the mayor of New York City, appeared before a judge in lower Manhattan on Friday and denied federal charges of pocketing enough illegal political graft and contributions to help him qualify for more than $10 million in public campaign funds.

“I am not guilty, your honor,” Mr. Adams said, pleading not guilty to all five counts he is currently facing.

Before issuing his plea, the mayor sat inside the courtroom stone-faced as he was read the litany of federal charges brought against him as well as a recounting of prosecutors’ allegations that he began collecting political gifts as far back as 2016, when he was Brooklyn Borough President.

Magistrate Judge Katherine Parker told Mr. Adams that he was before the court because “certain” charges were filed against him. “Yes, your honor,” the mayor responded when Judge Parker asked if his rights were explained to him. He declined to have the indictment read publicly.

Mr. Adams was released on his own recognizance under the condition issued by the prosecution that he be forbidden from contacting witnesses or other individuals named in his indictment and that they were willing to work out an arrangement on his ability to communicate with “persons in the mayor’s family or members of the mayor’s staff,” who may be aware of facts pertaining to the case. Attorney Celia Cohen with the prosecution team told the court that she would provide Mr. Adams’s legal team with a list of people since who were not named in the indictment.

After giving his plea, court was adjourned and Mr. Adams stood up and left emotionless, flanked by U.S. Marshals.

In front of the federal courthouse, Mr. Adams stood silent as his attorney gave a brief statement that was almost inaudible over the shouts of onlookers standing on the sidewalk. The mayor then entered a black van and left. His attorney, celebrity lawyer Alex Spiro, who has represented clients like Elon Musk and Alec Baldwin in the “Rust” movie set shooting case, said: “We’ll be filing a motion to dismiss.”  

An initial arrangement hearing was held earlier Friday morning mostly for scheduling purposes. Southern District Judge Dale Ho, who will preside over the trial, scheduled the next appearance for Wednesday morning when it is anticipated that they will discuss any further scheduling issues and motions that Mr. Adams’s defense team plan to present. 

The Justice Department’s indictment confirmed nearly 10 months of speculation that federal investigators were probing him for allegedly accepting illegal foreign campaign donations from Turkish officials and that he accepted more than $100,000 in lavish travel gifts.

It is also alleged that Mr. Adams sought out and received “illegal campaign contributions to his 2021 mayoral campaign, as well as other things of value, from foreign nationals” and that the trail of corruption continued after his inauguration.

“Adams soon began preparing for his next election, including by planning to solicit more illegal contributions and granting requests from those who supported his 2021 mayoral campaign,” reads a line from the unsealed indictment which also alleges that he defrauded the City of New York by funneling illegal foreign donations through straw donors based in America.

Mr. Adams had allegedly crossed “bright red lines” repeatedly according to the Southern District, using his authority to curry favor with Turkey, including applying pressure to the Fire Department of New York to fast track a new high-rise to house the country’s consulate in Midtown Manhattan.

The mayor attempted to proclaim his innocence during a contentious press conference after the indictment against him was unsealed and urged the public to not let them “demonize him.”

“We expected this. This is not surprising to us at all,” he said on Thursday. “The actions that have unfolded over the last 10 months. The leaks. The commentary. The demonizing. This did not surprise us that we reached this day, and I ask New Yorkers to wait to hear our defense before making any judgments.”

Mr. Adams had allegedly crossed “bright red lines” repeatedly according to the Southern District, using his authority to curry favor with Turkey, including applying pressure to the Fire Department of New York to fast track a new high-rise to house the country’s consulate in Midtown Manhattan.