New York Mayor Eric Adams has been accused of sexual assault and other offenses in a recent court filing, alleging incidents from 1993 when both he and the accuser were employees of the city of New York.
A spokesperson for Mayor Adams has denied the allegations, stating that the mayor does not recognize the accuser and has no recollection of meeting her. The accusation is part of a series of complaints filed against public figures this week under New York state’s Adult Survivors Act. This law allows lawsuits to be filed in court beyond the statutes of limitations.
The summons against Adams, a former police officer, was filed late Wednesday and seen by Reuters. While lacking specific incident details, it claims sexual assault, battery, employment discrimination based on gender and sex, retaliation, creation of a hostile work environment, and intentional infliction of emotional distress. It seeks a minimum of $5 million in damages and also names the city of New York, the NYPD’s transit bureau, the Guardians Association, and three unidentified entities as defendants.
Responses from the NYPD and the Guardians Association to the summons have not been forthcoming as of Thursday.
A City Hall spokesperson has reiterated that Mayor Adams vehemently denies the allegations, emphasizing his innocence and lack of any intent to physically harm another person.
This legal challenge coincides with other issues Mayor Adams is facing. On November 6, the FBI searched his electronic devices as part of an investigation. While details are scarce, the New York Times reported the inquiry might relate to potential acceptance of illegal campaign donations, including from the Turkish government, during Adams’ 2021 campaign. Adams’ lawyer confirmed the mayor’s cooperation with the investigation but did not specify its nature.