Eric Adams, the mayor of New York (NYC), will be tried for corruption from April 21 of next year, a US judge ruled on Friday, November 1. U.S. District Judge Dale Ho set the trial date during a hearing in Manhattan federal court.

Adams, 64, is the first of the city’s 110 mayors to be charged with a federal crime while in office. A report from the Reuters news agency says at least seven top officials in his administration have resigned in recent months as multiple federal corruption investigations engulf City Hall.

The indictment accused Adams of accepting flight upgrades and other luxury travel perks worth $100,000, as well as illegal campaign contributions from a Turkish official and other foreign nationals seeking to buy his influence.

In exchange, prosecutors say, Adams did favors for the Turkish government, including pressuring firefighters in 2021 to approve the opening of a consulate they deemed unsafe.

Adams held another elected office at the time, Brooklyn borough president, but by then it was clear he would become mayor, according to a report from the Associated Press news agency.

Last month, Adams pleaded not guilty to the charges against him and vowed to remain in office while he prepared his legal defense.

Prosecutors said they still haven’t been able to uncover a potentially crucial piece of evidence: Adams’ cellphone.

According to his indictment, Adams changed his password just before giving the phone to authorities, then claimed to have forgotten it.

The 64-year-old’s lawyers are fighting to have the corruption charge dismissed.

The attorneys argued that the charge did not meet the U.S. Supreme Court’s recently reduced felony threshold and should not apply to Adams because it involves allegations dating back to before he became mayor.

“The United States Attorney has had difficulty defining what the ‘what’ is here,” argued Adams’ attorney John Bash, referring to a “quid pro quo.”

(With contribution from agencies)