Eric Adams accused of corruption by four former high-ranking NYPD officers
In separate lawsuits filed on Monday, the former official described a culture of rampant corruption and cronyism inside one of the country's largest police forces.
In his lawsuit, James Essig, the former chief of detectives and 40-year force veteran, claims that the former commissioner of the NYPD sold promotions to the tune of $15,000. Essig says he was forced to resign after objecting to the practice. Essig's suit adds that senior NYPD leadership often selected 'friends and cronies' of theirs and Adams's in hiring.
'They used the Police Department as their own little playground,' Essig told the New York Times.
Each of the plaintiffs says that, with Adams's approval, they were either demoted or forced into retirement after raising concerns about the practices, according to their lawsuits.
Sign up to Headlines US
Get the most important US headlines and highlights emailed direct to you every morning
after newsletter promotion
They claim that the practice began in 2023 with Jeff Maddrey, the former police chief and an ally of Adams, allegedly bypassing standard hiring protocol to bring 'unqualified friends' into positions to positions in the city's public safety apparatus.
The lawsuits come amid New York City's mayoral race. Adams is running for re-election as an independent candidate although he ran as a Democrat in 2021. He was indicted on federal corruption charges last year – charges which were later dropped in an apparent deal with the incoming Trump administration – and has emphasized fall crime numbers under his administration in his campaign.
Adams is expected to face off against democratic socialist Zohran Mamdani, who saw a decisive victory over former governor Andrew Cuomo in the city's Democratic primary last month.
A spokesperson for Adams told the Times that his administration would review the lawsuits.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Daily Mail
18 minutes ago
- Daily Mail
Distraught Palm Beach mom screams and swears at judge for four minutes after son's killer got light sentence
A distraught Florida mother screamed at the top of her lungs and swore at a judge for nearly four minutes after her son's killer was handed a shockingly light sentence. Deidre Wade jumped out of her seat in a West Palm Beach courtroom on June 16 after Circuit Judge Richard Oftedal sentenced Cemari Daniels, 23, to 12 years behind bars for fatally shooting her 17-year-old son Jaleen Snead. Daniels faced life in prison, but jurors chose to convict him of manslaughter instead of murder. Daniels shot and killed Snead in the backseat of a car at an apartment complex on December 8, 2021. A second unidentified teenage boy, 16, was also shot and left wounded after Daniels, who was 20 at the time, exited a 2017 Ford Expedition and attempted to rob Snead of his handgun before shooting him at close range, police said. After Judge Oftedal determined how long Daniels would pay for the crime, Wade screamed: 'It don't make sense for the judge, the jury, the detectives. It don't make f***ing sense for them to do all that work and then y'all do some sh** like that.' A brief moment of silence rang out in the courtroom before Wade continued on about how her son was treated 'like a piece of trash' and 'f***ing road kill.' Oftedal sat in silence and did not interrupt the upset mother. He also did not acknowledge her response afterward, The Palm Beach Post reported. 'The one thing we all agree on is that this is a terrible tragedy,' he said earlier. Several court officers were seen standing up as Assistant State Attorney Marci Rex went up to Wade and appeared to try and comfort her as she continued on. 'No it's not enough. This coming from a mother that lost two sons in the same year. And her mama,' Wade continued. 'I lost both of my kids, six months apart. How do the f*** you think I feel, bro? That's some madness. Y'all don't do them like this, bro. 'Y'all supposed to give them the max. They did the time, they did the crime. Give them the time,' she said, adding that her son is 'doing his time' because he lost his life, so now Daniels should do the same. After her emotional protest, Wade turned around and walked out the room as tears dripped down her face. During Daniels' murder trial in April, prosecutors and witnesses said he tried to rob Snead of his gun before shooting him dead when he refused to let him have it. Meanwhile, defense attorney Gregg Lerman said his client acted in self-defense. Lerman specifically highlighted testimony that Snead had been waving around the firearm and talking about taking part in a drive-by shooting moments before he died, per the outlet. Daniels' lawyer said when his client opened the car door and asked Snead to leave, Snead pulled Daniels by his shirt, prompting him to fire the gun at him. 'The government argues that my client doesn't have a right to "stand your ground" or any self defense because this was a robbery,' Lerman told jurors. 'We submit to you this was never a robbery. There is no credible evidence that this was a robbery.' Lerman asked the judge to give Daniels five years in prison and 10 years probation. He also argued the tragedy unfolded not just because of he and Snead's actions that night, but because of the environment they grew up in. Specifically, the defense attorney said the teens had easy access to deadly weapons which could quickly escalate situations. Marilyn Jordan, Daniels' grandmother, also testified during the trial, as she described her grandson as a good person who got caught in the wrong place that night. Jordan also added that Daniels was raised by a single mother who worked hard to support him. 'He hangs around with the wrong people. But I do know he's a good person,' Jordan continued. During his sentencing, Lerman read a letter aloud that Daniels wrote the judge. 'I wish every day that I could change the outcome. This experience has been life-changing and has taught me hard lessons I wouldn't wish on anyone,' the letter read. Daniels faced a maximum of 30 years behind bars for Snead's death, along with 15 years for the other teen who was injured in the shooting. Rex argued that Daniels initiated the deadly incident and only claimed self-defense later on. She also asked the judge to sentence him to three decades. In the end, Oftedal rejected requests presented by the state and defense. 'I think the legislature got it right,' he said, referring to him agreeing with the statutory sentencing Daniels received. He could be released from prison in under a decade.
Reuters
19 minutes ago
- Reuters
Trump's tariffs: What's in effect and what could be in store?
WASHINGTON, July 9 (Reuters) - U.S. President Donald Trump has launched a global trade war with an array of tariffs that target individual products and countries. Trump has set a baseline tariff of 10% on all imports to the United States, as well as additional duties on certain products or countries. Here is a list of targeted tariffs he has implemented or threatened to put in place. Steel and aluminum - 50% Autos and auto parts - 25% PRODUCT TARIFFS - THREATENED Copper - 50% Pharmaceuticals - up to 200% Semiconductors - 25% or higher Movies - 100% Timber and lumber Critical minerals Aircraft, engines and parts COUNTRY TARIFFS IN EFFECT Canada - 10% on energy products, 25% for other products not covered by the U.S.-Canada-Mexico Agreement Mexico - 25% for products not covered by USMCA China - 30%, with additional tariffs on some products United Kingdom - 10%, with some auto and metal imports exempt from higher global rates Vietnam - 20% for some products, 40% on transshipments from third countries COUNTRY TARIFFS THREATENED TO TAKE EFFECT AUGUST 1 Algeria 30% Bangladesh 35% Bosnia and Herzegovina 30% Brunei 25% Cambodia 36% Indonesia 32% Iraq 30% Japan 25% Kazakhstan 25% Laos 40% Libya 30% Malaysia 25% Moldova 25% Myanmar 40% Philippines 20% Serbia 35% Sri Lanka 30% South Africa 30% South Korea 25% Thailand 36% Tunisia 25%
Daily Mail
20 minutes ago
- Daily Mail
America's largest airport reveals 'plan' to build NUCLEAR REACTOR on its land
America's largest airport by size is reportedly considering plans to build a nuclear reactor on its sprawling 33,500-acre property. Denver International Airport CEO Phil Washington, 67, made the shocking revelation during a recent Future of Aerotropolis event hosted by local business publication, Business Den. Washington, a former pick to lead Joe Biden 's FAA before he withdrew under heavy Republican criticism over the airport's safety record, told the panel discussion the he was seriously considering a 'small modular reactor' to meet growing energy demands. 'When we think about capacity and electricity and power, the development that's going on out there, we need to be thinking about this,' Washington said, according to Business Den. 'And so this is something that is imminent, that I plan to bring forward, for a study on how we can do this.' The project comes as the largest airport in the US by land area works to attract private development on its property. When asked whether those development efforts were in the early or later stages, Washington said they might be in the 'bottom of the first.' 'I think we have warmed up,' he said. 'We have finished our warmups. And we might be in the first inning, bottom of the first.' In 2023, Washington, who has served as DIA CEO since 2021, withdrew himself from being considered for former President Biden's pick to head the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). He did so after facing criticism for his lack of aviation experience amid six high-profile near-miss collisions earlier this year. Washington's nomination was announced by the White House the year prior. But the decision was quickly met with pushback from Republican lawmakers questioning the then 65-year-old's credentials. Critics against Washington's ascension to top aviation regulator also cited his potential legal entanglements. These include questions about his connection to a corruption investigation in Los Angeles while heading the county's MTA. Since then, Washington assumed the role of chief executive of Denver International, with Biden tapping him for the all-important role this past July. Washington's current post is his only involving aviation in a more than four-decade career. Interest in nuclear energy is growing across the country as states look for cleaner ways to power their communities. In New York, Democratic Governor Kathy Hochul recently directed the state's power authority to build a new zero-emission nuclear plant upstate. Washington, a former pick to lead Joe Biden 's FAA before he withdrew under heavy Republican criticism over the airport's safety record, told the panel discussion the he was seriously considering a 'small modular reactor' to meet growing energy demands This would be the first in a generation. In Colorado, Democratic Governor Jared Polis signed a new law in April that labels nuclear as a 'clean energy resource.' This means future plants could now qualify for state funding alongside wind and solar. And in Texas, Republican Governor Greg Abbott has gone even further creating a new state nuclear energy office and investing $350 million to expand nuclear power.
