Eric Adams Donor Pleads Guilty in Illegal Campaign Contribution Scheme
A Turkish American construction executive pleaded guilty on Friday to making illegal straw donations to Mayor Eric Adams’ 2021 campaign.
Adams himself faces charges in the same scheme but maintains his innocence.
Details of the Scheme
Erden Arkan, co-owner of KSK Construction Group, admitted to conspiracy in Manhattan federal court. He confessed to providing $1,250 checks from KSK to 10 employees. These employees then donated to Adams’ campaign under their names, a violation of campaign finance laws. The campaign then used eight of these contributions to secure public matching funds, a process Arkan was aware of.
Reimbursing individuals for campaign donations is illegal as it allows donors to bypass contribution limits and amplifies the impact of the money through public funds matching. Arkan revealed that the scheme was coordinated with a Turkish consulate official, as stated by Celia Cohen, an assistant U.S. attorney.
Connection to Adams’ Fundraising Event
The illicit contributions were linked to a May 7, 2021, fundraising event at the KSK office attended by Adams. Reports first surfaced regarding these questionable donations in 2023 after federal agents searched the firm’s premises.
Arkan’s guilty plea raises the likelihood of his testimony at Adams’ upcoming trial scheduled for April 21. However, Arkan and his lawyer, Jonathan Rosen, refrained from commenting as they left court.
Legal Ramifications and Future Plans
As part of the plea deal, Arkan agreed to restitution payments of up to $18,000 and a fine reaching $9,500. His sentencing, initially set for August 15, was postponed at the request of prosecutors until after Adams’ trial, anticipated to conclude in May. Adams has expressed intentions to seek reelection in the Democratic primary on June 24.
Arkan’s guilty plea marks the third case related to illegal contributions linked to Adams’ donors. Previous instances include Chinese billionaire Hui Qin’s admission of funneling donations to Adams and donors associated with another construction firm pleading guilty to a straw donor scheme.
Adams’ legal team maintains that the campaign was unaware of these unlawful contributions.
