The attorney representing Mayor Eric Adams in his federal corruption case, Alex Spiro, has joined the board of directors of a Turkish transportation app called Marti Technologies. Spiro was elected to the board at the company’s 2024 annual shareholder meeting. This move comes as Spiro simultaneously represents Adams in New York for allegedly accepting bribes from Turkish nationals in exchange for fast-tracking building inspections for the new Turkish consulate building in Manhattan. Spiro, who is a partner at Quinn Emanuel Urquhart & Sullivan LLP, expressed excitement to support the Turkish company’s leadership team and help them reach scale and profitability in 2025.
Spiro did not immediately respond to requests for comment on the matter, and neither did City Hall. The celebrity attorney, known for representing high-profile clients such as Alec Baldwin and Jay-Z, stated that he has had the privilege of working with some of the greatest entrepreneurs and companies in the world after being elected to the board of Marti Technologies. Meanwhile, Mayor Eric Adams is facing accusations of accepting flight and hotel upgrades worth over $100,000 from Turkish Airlines during frequent visits to Istanbul. Federal officials have also accused Adams of receiving phony donations from Turkish nationals for his 2021 campaign and using them to obtain $10 million in taxpayer-funded matching campaign funds.
In exchange for the perks and donations, prosecutors allege that Adams pressured the FDNY to allow the Turkish consulate building, known as Turkish House, to open without passing a fire inspection. Despite the allegations, Adams has denied any wrongdoing and has refused to step down from his position as mayor. He pleaded not guilty to the charges and plans to fight them in court next year. Adams has emphasized his discipline in not speaking out when he knows he has done nothing wrong amidst the ongoing investigation into his mayoral campaign.
Erden Arkan, the Turkish-born owner of KSK Construction Group in Williamsburg who allegedly provided illegal straw donations to Adams, is expected to plead guilty in the corruption case, according to federal officials. The case highlights the alleged ties between Adams and Turkish nationals, as well as the potential misuse of campaign funds and influence in city operations. Spiro’s involvement with Marti Technologies raises questions about conflicts of interest in his representation of Adams in the corruption case, as well as potential implications for the ongoing legal proceedings and public perception of the situation.
