The indictment of Eric Adams comes after years of allegations and investigations

New York Mayor Eric Adams was impeached on Wednesday, the culmination of mounting political and ethical problems.

The indictment, unsealed Thursday, accuses Adams of engaging in corruption dating back at least a decade. “He abused his position as the city’s top elected official, and previously as Brooklyn Borough President, to take bribes and solicit illegal campaign contributions,” U.S. Attorney Damian Williams said at a news conference.

Adams has been in the public eye in New York for decades, previously serving as an NYPD captain, state senator and Brooklyn borough president.

Since he was elected leader of the country’s largest city in 2021, his term has been riddled with scandals, including investigations into a possible nightclub protection racket and city contracts for immigrant housing. Here’s what you need to know:

More: New York Mayor Eric Adams charged with bribery and foreign financing

Eric Adams’ administration has been the subject of numerous investigations over the past year

Earlier this month, New York Police Commissioner Edward Caban stepped down after investigators seized his phone as part of an investigation that The New York Times reported may have been related to a possible nightclub security scheme. Electronic devices were also confiscated from his subordinates.

Shortly after Cabana stepped down, Adams’ chief legal adviser, Lisa Zornberg, resigned.

Court records show that earlier this month, two former New York City fire chiefs were charged with bribery, corruption and perjury in connection with events that occurred between 2021 and 2023.

Federal agents also served search warrants on other people helping Adams, including the city’s deputy mayor for criminal justice, Philip Banks III, his brother, school chancellor David Banks and first deputy mayor Sheena Wright.

About a year ago, the FBI raided the home of Adams’ campaign fundraising consultant and confiscated his phones and computers.

Eric Adams accused in recent lawsuit of sexual assault in 1993

In a lawsuit first filed under New York’s Adult Survivors Act in November 2023, a Florida woman accused Eric Adams of sexual assault in 1993.

The complaint alleged that Adams told the woman he would help her get a promotion, but as a quid pro quo proposition, he asked her to perform oral sex on him while they parked in an empty parking lot. He then forced her to touch his genitals and continued masturbating them while they were in the car together, according to the lawsuit.

The plaintiff worked as a Black woman on the New York City Transit Police and, according to the lawsuit, turned to Adams, a member of the Guardians Association, a fraternal organization within the New York Police Department that represents African Americans, for career help.

Adams denied the accusations.

More: New York Mayor Eric Adams accused of sexual assault in 1993, according to a new lawsuit

Connections with the “Bling Bishop” brothers and Petrosyants

Bishop Lamor Miller-Whitehead, known as “Bling Bishop,” was sentenced to nine years in prison earlier this year after being convicted of financial fraud.

Before his 2022 arrest, Miller-Whitehead had close ties to Adams.

In Miller-Whitehead’s indictment, prosecutors said he tried to convince the businessman to loan him $500,000 by promising favors from Adams.

According to the New York Times, Adams is also friends with Robert and Johnny Petrosyants, who pleaded guilty in 2014 to perjury to a check cashing company.

When is the next New York mayoral race?

Adams refused to resign in the face of the allegations.

“The actions that have occurred over the last 10 months have included leaks, comments and demonization,” Adams told reporters. “It didn’t surprise us that we got to this day. I am asking the people of New York to wait for our defense before you make any decisions.”

The New York Times reports that New York Gov. Kathy Hochul may have the power to remove him, but the process could be complicated.

The next New York mayoral election will be in 2025.

Contributions: Dan Morrison, Bart Jansen, Thao Nguyen, Fernando Cervantes Jr.