Live updates from Eric Adams: The mayor, who is accused of fraud and bribery, is defiant.

 The Manhattan U.S. Attorney, Damian Williams, said that Adams accepted more than $100,000 in bribes and utilized his position to support Turkey. At a press conference, the mayor maintained his innocence, saying, "I ask New Yorkers to wait to hear our defense."

Updated September 26, 2024, 12:38 PM EST Matthew Haag, William K. Rashbaum, Olivia Bensimon, Dana Rubinstein, Michael Rothfeld Here's the latest on the allegations against the mayor: Mayor Eric Adams  on Thursday sounded defiant as he faced five federal charges of bribery, fraud and  illegal overseas campaign contributions, insisting he would remain in office and pleading with New Yorkers to listen to his defense. The charges against him were unsealed  Thursday morning following an investigation that began in 2021 and included a search of the mayor's residence. Prosecutors said the conspiracy began when Adams was a senior Brooklyn borough official  and continued after he became mayor. The investigation focused on whether  Adams, 64,  conspired with the Turkish government to obtain illegal overseas campaign contributions in exchange for acting on its behalf. US Attorney for the Southern District of New York Damien Williams said  Adams was "showered" with gifts  he knew were illegal. "This was a multi-year conspiracy to curry favor with one rising New York politician, Eric Adams," Williams said at a news conference. "Year after year, he kept the public in the dark."  Williams spoke about the allegations shortly after  Adams finished a loud news conference at Gracie Mansion, surrounded by supporters.  Adams portrayed himself as a victim and urged New Yorkers to be patient. He said he has no plans to resign, despite repeated calls from elected officials.

 "I ask New Yorkers to wait until they hear our defense," Adams said. According to the indictment, Adams "solicited and accepted improper valuable benefits" from at least 2014, when he was Brooklyn's borough president. Prosecutors said the perks included luxury trips, including free or discounted tickets on Turkish Airlines  and free meals and hotel rooms, from wealthy foreigners and at least one Turkish government official. He traveled with the airline even when it was inconvenient,  including a  flight  from New York to France in 2017 with a stop in Istanbul, the indictment said.  Adams concealed the gifts or made it appear  he  paid for them, according to the indictment, which prosecutors say were worth more than $100,000. "This was just a shoddy cover-up," Williams said. In return, prosecutors said,  Adams pressured  New York Fire Department officials to approve the construction of a new Turkish consulate  in Manhattan, despite safety concerns. Fire department officials who oversaw the safety assessment said they were told they would lose their jobs if they did not comply with the orders. "Especially when it became clear that Adams would be running for mayor of New York City in 2021, his foreign backers sought to exploit their corrupt relationships with him," prosecutors said in the indictment. "Mr. Adams agreed, granting preferential treatment in exchange for undue benefits." The investigation reached a dramatic climax in the early hours of Thursday morning. At around 6 a.m.,  a dozen men and women dressed in business attire arrived in SUVs outside the mayor's official residence, Gracie Mansion,  on the Upper East Side. Adams' lawyer, Alex Spiro, said in a statement  that investigators came to take the mayor's phone, even though investigators had already seized electronic devices from him last year. "Federal agents showed up to Gracie Mansion this morning, put on a show (again), and took Mayor Adams' cell phone (again). He was not  arrested and is looking forward to his day in court. They are sending out over a dozen agents to take the cell phone  we wanted to give away,

" Spiro said in an email.  Adams, a former police captain, was elected New York City's 110th mayor in 2021 after campaigning on promises to reduce crime and bring professionalism to City Hall. His aides have been embroiled in federal investigations, and some have recently resigned. On Wednesday night, elected officials, including several Democrats running against him in next year's primary, called on Adams to resign. Gov. Kathy Hochul has the power to remove him from office. She has not yet responded to  the charges. More info: What could happen: If  Adams resigns,  New York City's Public Defender Jumaane Williams would become acting mayor. He would call a bipartisan special election for a new mayor, which could take place within 90 days. Read more about possible next steps.  Timeline: The investigation into Adams became public knowledge about a year ago, when the FBI searched the home of one of his most prominent fundraisers. A few days later, agents seized his electronic devices. Read more about the key events that led to the indictment. A series of investigations: Four federal investigations  ensnared Adams' administration and senior officials, including the police chief and  schools superintendent. Read more about the investigations here. See more Grace Ashford September 26, 2024 12:36 PM EST Grace Ashford Governor Kathy Hochul, who has the power to

 impeach the mayor, spoke briefly to reporters and said she was reviewing the charges against the mayor and weighing the decisions he faces. "My No. 1 responsibility is to make sure we serve the people of New York City and  New York state," she said. Grace Ashford September September 26, 2024 12:36 PM EST Grace Ashford "This is a very serious issue going on," Hochul said, adding that he would proceed thoughtfully and cautiously in removing Adams, an ally. Mihir Zaveri September 26, 2024 12:35 PM EST Mihir Zaveri  Antonio Reynoso, who succeeded Adams as Brooklyn Borough President, called on him to resign. "The Mayor cannot lead this city and in good faith ask the public to have confidence in him." Advertisement Skip Advertisement Lora Fadul September 26, 2024 Lora Fadul In a statement, City Councilman Chris Banks,  whose district includes Brownsville, Brooklyn, called the allegations "deeply disappointing, disturbing and deeply disturbing," adding that "we are witnessing a true tragedy  in real time."