Bünyamin Tekin

New York City Mayor Eric Adams has found himself at the center of a major political scandal, facing allegations of accepting more than $100,000 in bribes from Turkish businessmen and officials that were allegedly funneled into his mayoral campaign and included extravagant travel perks. While this has caused an uproar in New York’s political scene, the numbers tied to Adams are minimal compared to the staggering sums involved in corruption allegations against Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and his political circle.

With Adams pleading not guilty to all charges on Friday, his long-established ties to Turkish officials have come under scrutiny, particularly as they coincide with a critical period in Turkish politics. His relationship with Turkey began in 2014, around the same time Erdoğan was dismantling one of the largest corruption investigations in Turkish history. That investigation implicated high-ranking officials and Erdoğan’s family members, but the fallout was swift and brutal for the prosecutors and police involved in exposing the case. Over a decade later, many remain imprisoned, and Erdoğan’s political machine remains in full control.

Adams’ fascination with Turkey began while he was Brooklyn Borough president, a ceremonial role that gave him little real political power but allowed him to attend public events and develop ties with various ethnic communities in the city. His engagement with Turkish officials was notably consistent, attending nearly 80 events celebrating Turkish culture and meeting with Turkish business figures between 2014 and 2021.

His enthusiasm for Turkish causes raised some eyebrows. While Brooklyn does have a Turkish population, it is small compared to the number of Adams’ interactions with Turkish diplomats and business entities. Critics note that his participation in ribbon-cuttings, charity events and meetings with Turkish officials went beyond what was typical for a borough president.

Federal prosecutors have now charged Adams with five criminal offenses, including bribery, wire fraud and soliciting illegal foreign campaign donations. Central to the case is the claim that Adams received over $100,000 in luxury travel perks from Turkish nationals, including upgrades on Turkish Airlines flights, stays in high-end İstanbul hotels and other expensive gifts. Prosecutors allege these bribes were offered in exchange for Adams’ political influence to speed up the approval of the Turkish Consulate General building in New York City.

In particular, prosecutors point to Adams’ intervention in a fire safety inspection at the new consulate. Despite concerns from fire officials about safety issues, Adams allegedly pressured the department to approve the building in time for an important visit by President Erdoğan. In return, Adams allegedly received lavish benefits disguised through discounted prices and forged paperwork.

Adams, who has denied all wrongdoing, continues to hold his position as mayor. At a press conference following his indictment, he said, “I follow the rules, I follow federal law.” Still, prominent Democrats, including Congressman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, have called for his resignation, while New York Governor Kathy Hochul is reviewing the charges and considering her options.

The perks Mayor Adams allegedly received, such as first class flights and luxury hotel stays from Turkish officials, pale in comparison to the lavish spending habits of Turkey’s political elite. While Adams is accused of accepting free travel by Turkish Airlines, Turkish politicians have been criticized for using state-owned business jets for personal trips. This pattern of excess is reflected in the behavior of many Turkish officials, whose displays of wealth, from luxury watches to large estates, have become commonplace. One can trace the origins of the bold display of this lifestyle back to a decade ago, just before Adams’ infatuation with Turkey began.

A much larger scandal in Turkey

While the indictment against Adams is significant, it pales in comparison to the immense corruption scandal that rocked Turkey in 2013, a case that still echoes in Turkish politics today. The December 17-25, 2013 corruption probes uncovered widespread bribery, money laundering and fraud involving Turkish cabinet ministers, businessmen and Erdoğan’s family. Police wiretaps implicated Erdoğan himself in the illegal funneling of millions of dollars.

Instead of allowing the investigation to proceed, Erdoğan acted quickly to dismantle it. He dismissed prosecutors, reassigned police officers and accused the Gülen movement, a faith-based group inspired by US-based Turkish cleric Fethullah Gülen, of orchestrating the probe to destabilize his government. Hundreds of police officers and members of the judiciary involved in the investigation were jailed, and many remain behind bars today, accused of participating in a “coup” against the government.

As Erdoğan suppressed the investigation, his hold on power solidified. He used a coup attempt in 2016 as a further pretext to purge the state of anyone connected to the investigation or opposition groups. Erdoğan’s aggressive tactics allowed him to avoid accountability, while Turkey moved toward an increasingly authoritarian regime.

Since then, reports from whistleblowers, including former insiders like notorious mob boss Sedat Peker and Ali Yeşildağ, have accused Erdoğan and his associates of accumulating vast wealth through bribes, kickbacks and rigged public tenders. The sums involved are mind-boggling — Yeşildağ alone claimed that Erdoğan personally pocketed over $1 billion from a 2007 airport tender alone. Erdoğan’s inner circle, including his family members, are believed to control hundreds of billions of dollars in assets obtained through illicit means.

The contrast between the two cases couldn’t be clearer. In the US, Mayor Adams faces a public trial for his alleged crimes. His case has drawn substantial media coverage, and while Adams has vowed to fight the charges, the legal system is holding him accountable. In Turkey, however, accountability is a far more elusive concept. Erdoğan has largely insulated himself from the legal consequences of his actions, using his near-total control of the judiciary to protect himself and his allies from prosecution.

Where Adams faces the possibility of 45 years in prison if convicted, Erdoğan’s political machinery remains intact, with his wealth and power continuing to grow.

Turkey’s strongman buried a sweeping corruption probe that implicated his top officials, and his low-ranking bureaucrats now buy influence abroad with sums that pale in comparison to the vast fortune he and his inner circle are alleged to have amassed.