NYC NOW - September 26, 2024: Morning Headlines

Episode Date: September 26, 2024

Get up and get informed! Here's all the local news you need to start your day: New York City Mayor Eric Adams denies wrongdoing following media reports Wednesday of a federal indictment. Meanwhile, a Rikers Island correction officer, already facing multiple sexual misconduct allegations, was accused in another lawsuit filed against the city this month. WNYC's Samantha Max reports. Also, Governor Kathy Hochul is allocating $80 million in state funding to support nonprofit arts programs. Plus, WNYC’s Brigid Bergin has more on the reports of Mayor Adams’s indictment.

Welcome to NYC Now. Your source for local news in and around New York City from WMYC. It's Thursday, September 26th. Here's the morning headlines from Tiffany Hanson. Mayor Eric Adams is denying wrongdoing after multiple media reports emerged last night of a federal indictment. For months, leaks and rumors have been aimed at me in an attempt to undermine my credibility and paint me as guilty. News of the indictment was first reported by the New York Times. The precise charges remained sealed. The mayor made his comments in a video released by his lawyer Wednesday

night. He says he will not resign and try to assure New Yorkers that he can manage the city. Despite a pending criminal case, the U.S. attorney for the Southern District did not respond to a request for comment on the report. A Riker's Island Correction Officer who is facing multiple allegations of sexual misconduct was accused in another lawsuit filed against the city this month. WNYC's Samantha Max has more. Officer Anthony Martin Jr. is accused of ordering Jessica Brenner and other women to play a sexual version of the game Simon says while they were detained in the Women's Dale, according to court papers. Brennan says the officer later pressured her to write a statement saying nothing happened. At least two other women have accused Martin Jr. of sexual assault and lawsuits.

Queens prosecutors have also charged him with raping a woman in his home while off duty. Martin Jr. pleaded not guilty and has denied the allegations. He was suspended without pay after his arrest earlier this year. The Department of Correction declined to comment on pending litigation, but says it thoroughly investigates allegations of sexual misconduct. Governor Hockel is freeing up $80 million in state funding to support nonprofit arts programs. The governor announced the funding yesterday in public. Putnam County on the grounds of the Hudson Valley Shakespeare Festival.

Part of the money will go toward establishing a new 98-acre campus for the festival. Non-profit arts organizations can apply for the money through January 14th of next year. The forecast, 66 degrees, a little foggy, little misty this morning, a 50-50 chance for afternoon showers. Otherwise cloudy today, with a high near 76 degrees tonight. That chance for shower stays with us. Cloudy skies tonight as well, with a low of 67. We're at 66 now. Stay close. There's more after the break.

As we've been hearing, news broke late last night. Mayor Eric Adams has been indicted. That indictment comes after months of investigations swirling around his campaign and his administration. Joining us this morning is WNYC's senior politics reporter Bridget Bergen. Good morning, Bridget. Good morning, Tiffany. All right, so just remind us what we know so far. about the charges facing the mayor, which really isn't much at this point, right? That's right, Tiffany. As you have said, the indictment is still under seal. So we haven't seen those specific charges yet. But keep in mind, there have been multiple investigations into the mayor's campaign and administration. And about a year ago, the New York Times reported that the FBI was investigating whether the mayor conspired with the Turkish government to funnel illegal foreign

donations to his campaign committee in exchange for favors from his administration. The Turkish government built a new high-rise consulate in Manhattan where there were some issues with its fire safety inspection. But again, as you said, and we will continue to stress, we will know more details when the indictment is unsealed, which could happen as early as this morning. You mentioned, Bridget, that the investigations by the FBI have been taking place for about a year now. But things really seem to have escalated in recent weeks several high-profile members of the Adams' administration have come under scrutiny. So talk to us about the most recent events. Yeah, what a September it has been, Tiffany. It's been a real whirlwind since really the first week of this month. Federal investigators seem to step up what has been going on for

about a year and moving into a new year. Investigator sees the phones and electronic devices of former NYPD Police Commissioner Edward Caban, two deputy mayors, Phil Banks, the deputy mayor for Public Safety and Sheena Wright, the first deputy mayor, as well as her partner city schools chancellor David Banks. And then on top of that, we have seen this wave of high-profile departures from the administration, including Commissioner Caban, the city's, the mayor's chief council, Lisa Zornberg. And then just this week, City Schools Chancellor David Banks said he was retiring at the end of this calendar year. All right. We got a video. from the mayor late last night. What else have we heard from him? Well, keep in mind, this is something

he has been saying throughout the year, insisting he's done nothing wrong. And this is someone who got his start as a New York City police officer, rose to the rank of police captain. He often is invoking his ties to law enforcement. He says he always follows the law. He expects everyone around him to do the same. But that video that you mentioned, he issued last night, is very interesting. because he talks about how he's facing lies and rumors for sticking up for New Yorkers. He even tries to make a link between calls for more federal aid to address the migrant crisis here in the city and this particular investigation. There's nothing to indicate at this point that there's any connection between those two.

It's a comment that is really sure to raise eyebrows because it's suggesting that this is a politically motivated investigation. But ultimately, he said this. Enough. I will fight these injustices with every ounce of my strength and my spirit. If I'm charged, I know I am innocent. I will request in the immediate trials so the New Yorkers can hear the truth. Now, he goes on to acknowledge that people are calling on him to resign, but he says he was elected by New Yorkers to serve them, and he will continue to do that.

I will note that last night the mayor was at Gracie Mansion with some of his close. advisors, including former chief of staff, Frank Corone, and his attorney, Brendan McGuire. I think they will all be bracing for what is yet to come today. So we did hear from the mayor last night. What other reaction have we heard, Bridget? Well, there's been a lot of calls for him to resign. Even before the news of this indictment broke, Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez issued a statement to that effect, saying the flood of investigations and vacancies are threatening the functioning of government and for the good of the city that he should resign. Now, of course, since the news broke, the calls on Adams to step aside are just growing louder by the

moment, including several of those folks who won his job next year. Many of the candidates who have said that they are going to toss their hat in the ring for the Democratic nomination for mayor are among the folks who've said the mayor needs to step aside. But of course, there are some others who are taking a little bit more of a measured approach to their reaction. Is one of those people taking a measured approach, Governor Kathy Hockel? What has she said so far? Yeah, I mean, and of course, she is particularly important in this conversation.

Tiffany, she's one of the people who could remove Adams from office right now. So late last night, her spokesman, obvious small issued a statement. It said that she's aware of these very concerning news reports. She is monitoring the situation. but it would be premature to comment further until the matter is confirmed by law enforcement. So definitely some hedging going on there, being very careful not to get too far ahead of the fact that we don't know the specifics of this indictment. But the pressure is definitely building. And there will be much more to come today in the days ahead as we learn the details of this indictment and what it means for the city going forward.

Bridget, does that mean we will hear from the Southern District of New York today? I think we are bracing to see if anything specific is released. I know that there will be a lot of people down in lower Manhattan around the courthouses, hoping to see an indictment unsealed so that we can see some of the details of these charges. And, of course, to see if there's anyone else who could be connected to any part of this scheme that may also be accused. There are media reports that other people who have been close to the campaign in the administration may be implicated in what the charges are to come.

but, you know, anything that we say at this point would be speculation since that indictment is still under seal. But I think there will be a lot more to talk about throughout the morning and certainly throughout the days ahead. Bridget, thanks so much for your time. I know it's a busy morning. WNYC's senior politics reporter, Bridget Berg, and thank you. Thanks, Tiffany. As we've been hearing multiple reports coming in late last night, Mayor Eric Adams indicted on federal criminal charges talking with WNYC's Bridget Burgen. Those charges against the mayor remain unclear. The indictment, as Bridget said, remains sealed.

That indictment would mean that Mayor Eric Adams would be the first mayor in modern New York City history to be charged with a federal crime while in office. Stay with us for the latest. We have much more coming your way. Stay with us. Thanks for listening. This is NYC now from WNYC. Be sure to catch us every weekday, three times a day, for your top news headlines and occasional deep. dives and subscribe wherever you get your podcasts. See you this afternoon.