NEW YORK (AP) — New York City Mayor Eric Adams will return to court Friday as he seeks to defend himself against federal corruption charges while fighting for his political future.

The Democrat is expected to appear at the 2 p.m. hearing in Manhattan federal court, where his lawyers will argue that a bribery charge, one of five charges against Adams, should be dismissed because it does not meet the federal crime standard. . .

The indictment, which also includes wire fraud and conspiracy charges, accuses Adams of accepting flight upgrades and other luxury travel benefits valued at $100,000 along with illegal campaign contributions from a Turkish official and other foreign nationals seeking to buy his influence.

In exchange, prosecutors say, Adams performed political favors that benefited the Turkish government, including accelerating the opening of a consulate building deemed unsafe by fire inspectors.

Adams has pleaded not guilty to the charges and vowed to remain in office while he prepares his legal defense.

U.S. District Judge Dale E. Ho gave the defense and prosecution every 20 minutes to discuss the matter.

On Thursday night, Ho rejected Adams’ request for a hearing into the mayor’s claims that the government has been leaking information about the investigation to the media. The judge ruled that Adams and his attorneys did not substantiate those claims and, if any leaks occurred, that the government was to blame.

As for the bribery allegation, Adams’ lawyers urged Ho in a memo last month to dismiss the “extraordinarily vague” allegation, saying it sought to criminalize “normal and perfectly legal acts” Adams carried out as district president. of Brooklyn before being elected mayor.

The years of flight upgrades and other benefits he received were, at most, “classic tips,” which according to recent U.S. Supreme Court rulings were not covered by the bribery statute if they were given for past acts, according to the record.

Meanwhile, federal prosecutors responded that Adams’ actions were clearly criminal.

“It should be clear from the indictment that there is nothing routine about a public official accepting more than $100,000 in benefits from a foreign diplomat, which he went to great lengths to conceal, including fabricating false document trails to create the illusion of payment. ”the prosecutors wrote.

Judge Dale Ho is expected to hear arguments from each side on the motion to dismiss the charge. It is unclear when he will issue his decision.

At a hearing last month, federal prosecutors indicated they could file additional charges against Adams and charge others around him.

Several of Adams’s closest aides, including his police commissioner, the schools chancellor and several vice mayors, resigned in recent months after federal investigators executed coordinated searches of their homes in early September.

Adams has maintained that he can continue to lead the city effectively while fighting the charges.

But his political future remains complicated and several opponents have announced plans to challenge him in next year’s mayoral primary.

Earlier this week, Adams drew attention after repeatedly refusing to criticize former President Donald Trump, refusing to say when he last spoke with the Republican nominee or whether he was seeking a pardon should Trump win re-election.