Ultra-progressive BLM activist who is next-in-line to be NYC Mayor received donations from donor named in Eric Adams indictment, report says

An ultra-progressive BLM activist who is next-in-line to be NYC Mayor accepted political contributions from a donor who is accused of arranging illegal donations to Mayor Eric Adams.

Williams, 48, receieved $5,000 in donations from Tolib Mansurov - an Uzbek American businessman who is identified as 'Businessman 4' in the bombshell indictment against the mayor - and two of his employees, city campaign-finance records show.

The campaign contributions to Williams - who has a history of protesting against the police - seem to carry similarities to the straw donations allegedly made by Mansurov to Adams, 64, during his 2021 mayoral campaign.

The historic indictment against Adams states Mansurov illegally reimbursed $8,000 in total to employees who donated to Adams 2021 mayoral campaign, in addition to directly contributing $2,000 himself.

Campaign finance records show Williams' re-election campaign received a $2,100 donation on Janurary 24 from the Brooklyn contractor.

The same day, two employees within his United Elite Group contractor and construction management company donated $2,100 and $800 respectively, according to the records.

Mansurov also donated $10,000 to Williams' unsuccessful 2022 campaign for governor - with state and city campaign-finance records showing he has donated only to the campaigns of Adams and Williams.

A spokesman for Williams said the public advocate met Mansurov as part of his engagemnet with the Uzbek community.

'We were unaware of his donations to the mayor and have no specific reason to believe the contribution to the public advocate was improper, but the campaign will closely review the donation to ensure both ethical and legal compliance,' the spokesman said. 

The Uzbek businessman is described in the 5-page indictment against Adams - who is charged with conspiracy to commit wire fraud, federal program bribery, and receiving campaign contributions from foreign nationals - as a prominent member of a different ethnic community whose 'contributions were sought and made for similar reasons to the many Turkish nationals and Turkish Americans.'

Adams is accused of taking bribes and illegal campaign contributions from Turkish officials and nationals, and returning the favor by greasing an FDNY inpsection of a 3-story skyscraper housing the Turkish consulate.

Two Adams campaign workers who later scored jobs at City Hall asked Mansurov to contribute $10,000, the indictment stated.

They told Mansurov he couldn't legally donate more than $2,000, and that he should instead direct his employees to contribute to the campaign and then pay them back, according to court papers. 

Mansurov ultimately reimbursed four employees $2,000 each for their contributions - a standard straw donation scheme, the filings detail.

The Adams campaign then received the city's match on donations, the indictment states.

At a court hearing Wednesday, a prosecutor said that Adams could face additional charges and that more defendants would likely be charged in connection with the alleged schemes.

Federal prosecutor Hagan Scotten said there was evidence that Adams attempted to tamper with a witness in the investigation with Scotten claiming that after FBI agents contacted one witness, the individual was given 'a clear message from the defendant' that they should not be truthful to the FBI.

Scotten branded it a 'significant instance of witness interference in this case'.

The mayor has pleaded not guilty to the charges.

US District Judge Dale Ho said he would set a trial date at a later hearing but acknowledged that the timing was a concern for Adams and the public.

'I'm going to do my best to keep the case moving forward,' he said.

Williams, after Adams was indicted last week, canceled his public schedule - a move seen as a the progressive politician preparing to potentially take the mayoral title.

The public advocate said Adams needed to present a 'plan' for the city, but stopped short of calling for his resignation.

'As public advocate, one of the things is to be prepared in case the mayor steps down or is no longer mayor, so that's something you have to know when you get the job,' Williams told reporters.

During 15 years in public service, Williams has stoked anti-police sentiment and pushed for criminal reform, including to end solitary confinement in city prisons. He is also a prominent pro-Palestine activist.

Williams was a leader of the 2020 BLM protests in NYC. In June 2020, during the George Floyd protests, he led marches to Brooklyn Borough Hall to demand NYPD budget cuts.

He also threatened to refuse to sign a warrant authorizing the collection of real estate taxes, which underpin the city's budget.

Williams said he would not sign that warrant unless the city eliminated the next class of police officers.