Mayor Adams said Monday he plans on attending SOMOS, an annual political conference attended by prominent New York politicians.
“I’m planning on going,” the mayor said at his weekly press briefing on Monday. “I’m not 100% sure. I would like to go. It’s a good time to convene with folks in Puerto Rico.”
Adams attended the conference, held in Puerto Rico every year, in 2021 and 2022 — but missed last year’s. The event was held just days after his phones were seized by the FBI in connection with the feds’ probe into Turkish contributions to the Adams campaign.
SOMOS begins Wednesday, the day after election day, in San Juan and runs through the weekend.
This conference could be an awkward one for Adams: He’s facing legal trouble, mayoral challengers are circling and many elected officials have called for his resignation.
Adams was indicted in late September, accused by prosecutors of accepting bribes from associates of the Turkish government who later allegedly cashed in on the “transactional relationship” by asking Adams to carry out political favors. The mayor ahs peladed not guilty to all charges against him.
His administration could also come under further legal attacks, with several current and now-former members of his administration receiving subpoenas, undergoing FBI raids and device seizures as part of several federal corruption inquiries.
While the mayor said he was planning on going, he also built in an out for himself:
“I got a lot of stuff going on I have to do in the city, and if I can get a lot done before next week, then I’ll definitely go. But I’m not going to stay long, no matter what.”
