NYC Mayor Adams Seen with Potential Witness at Charity Event

Last month, New York City Mayor Eric Adams made an unexpected appearance at a food giveaway event in Manhattan. The same event was attended by a Turkish businessman named Sezgin Baran Korkmaz, who is involved in a separate legal case. Korkmaz is suspected to be a potential witness against Mayor Adams in an upcoming corruption trial. The mayor's presence at the event raises questions about whether he followed federal guidelines that restrict his interactions with certain individuals. Korkmaz, known for his legal troubles, was mentioned in Adams' indictment under the alias "Businessman 3. " The indictment alleges that Korkmaz agreed to make a substantial illegal campaign contribution to Adams' 2021 campaign. However, Korkmaz never made the contribution due to his legal issues in the U. S. Adams' attorney has stated that the mayor was unaware of Korkmaz's attendance at the event and did not interact with him. The food giveaway was not part of Adams' public schedule, as he attended on short notice. The event was hosted by People Connecting New York and the Ellen Maguire Foundation, with additional support from Ali Baba, a Turkish restaurant in Kips Bay. This isn't the first time Adams has been linked to the restaurant or Turkish influences. Previously, he hosted fundraisers at Ali Baba that were attended by members connected to the Turkish government. The restaurant's owner, Ali Riza Dogan, has publicly supported Korkmaz, calling him a "dear friend. " Korkmaz is currently facing federal charges in Utah for alleged involvement in a money laundering scheme. Despite being indicted and jailed without bail initially, he has since been released pending trial. His trial date has been postponed to March 10. The overlapping connections and the unexpected meeting at the charity event raise important questions about ethical boundaries and the mayor's compliance with federal orders.