SUMMARY

Federal prosecutors laid out a five-count indictment against New York City Mayor Eric Adams, charging him with bribery, conspiracy and wire fraud over the past decade. Adams is accused of taking illegal gifts and foreign campaign contributions but says he’ll continue to run the city as his lawyers handle the case.

View the transcript of the story.

News alternative: Check out recent segments from the NewsHour, and choose the story you’re most interested in watching. You can make a Google doc copy of discussion questions that work for any of the stories here.

Key terms:

indictment — a felony criminal case that is heading towards trial

subpoena — a writ issued mainly by a court to compel testimony by a witness or the handing over of evidence under a penalty of law if not provided

cronyism — awarding jobs, gifts and other advantages to friends or colleagues, especially between politicians and individuals they are hoping to gain favors from

WARM-UP QUESTIONS

1. Who is Eric Adams?
2. Why was Adams indicted?
3. What have federal prosecutors said about Adams' indictment?
4. How were other countries involved in Adams' indictment?
5. When was Adams indicted?

FOCUS QUESTIONS

1. How significant do you think it is that Mayor Eric Adams is the first sitting mayor in the modern-era to be indicted? (check out this story here to hear about another NYC mayor indicted 150 years ago)
2. How do you think Adams' indictment and cronyism, in general, affect people's trust in their political leaders?

Media literacy: How could you find out more about the significance of the indictment of a sitting politician and how it differs from when elected leaders are indicted after they leave office?

Alternative: See, Think, Wonder: What did you notice? What did the story make you think? What would you want to learn more about?

FOR MORE

What students can do:

Discuss the role corruption has played in US history using this Journalism in Action political cartoon of John D. Rockefeller's Standard Oil company and stranglehold he had on key political institutions?

How do the contents of Mayor Eric Adams' indictment compare to the Gilded Age and the era of Tammany Hall and Boss Tweed and other periods in history? See this New York times article The Not-So-Brief History of Scandal Among New York City Mayors.

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