Eric Adams, Former 'international Mayor' Of New York City, Becomes An Albanian Citizen

NEW YORK — Former New York City Mayor Eric Adams announced Friday that he had go a national of Albania, putting him 1 measurement person to his oft-repeated dream of leaving authorities down for a life abroad.

Adams, a Democrat, received nan honorary citizenship “at his request,” according to an official decree from nan country’s president, Bajram Begaj.

The news was first reported successful nan Albanian property and confirmed by a spokesperson for Adams, who said nan ex-mayor had “long been a friend and state of nan Albanian-American community.”

“The determination by nan Republic of Albania to assistance Mayor Adams citizenship reflects that enduring narration and communal respect,” nan spokesperson, Todd Shapiro, said successful a matter message, adding that nan nickname “further strengthens nan enslaved betwixt New York and Albania.”

Adams, who erstwhile described himself arsenic an “international mayor,” has antecedently expressed an affinity for nan mini Balkan nation. His big boy lived successful nan state while competing successful Albania’s type of “American Idol” and Adams traveled location himself successful October — 1 of respective world trips taken successful his last months successful office.

The purpose, he said astatine nan time, was “to opportunity hullo to a friend and study from a friend and build a narration pinch nan relationship that would not let our oceans aliases seas to disagreement us.”

It wasn’t instantly clear what, if anything, Adams planned to do pinch his caller citizenship. But he has antecedently expressed a desire to move acold from his hometown of New York City.

“When I discontinue from government, I’m going to unrecorded successful Baku,” Adams, past Brooklyn borough president, said astatine an arena honoring nan Azerbaijan organization successful 2018. A fewer years later, successful an question and reply pinch a Jewish publication, Adams said he would for illustration to discontinue successful nan Israeli-occupied Golan Heights.

As mayor, Adams’ penchant for world trips to Turkey prompted a national indictment focused, successful part, connected allegations that he accepted improper recreation benefits from overseas nationals.

Adams denied nan allegations, and nan lawsuit was later ordered dropped by President Trump’s Justice Department. Adams later met pinch Trump management officials astir nan anticipation of taking an ambassadorship, which did not materialize.

Shortly aft dropping his ailing bid for reelection, Adams embarked connected a four-day travel to Albania, gathering pinch nan country’s Prime Minister Edi Rama and members of his Cabinet, on pinch section business leaders. The travel was paid for successful portion by nan Albanian government.

Since leaving office, Adams has been spotted successful Dubai and nan Democratic Republic of Congo, though his day-to-day activities stay a root of immoderate speculation.

In January, he launched a cryptocurrency coin that he said would hit backmost antisemitism and “anti-Americanism,” but it drew scrutiny aft losing millions of dollars successful value.

Offenhartz writes for nan Associated Press.