What you should know
FBI agents seized electronic devices from Mayor Eric Adams on Monday night following an event and a few days after authorities conducted a full-scale investigation into the Brooklyn residence of the Democrat’s top fundraiser, in what which appears to be connected to a campaign fundraising case. Both the Democrat’s campaign attorney and the mayor himself noted that Adams is cooperating with authorities and has not been charged with any crime. “As a former member of law enforcement, I expect all members of my staff to respect the law and cooperate fully with any type of investigation, and will continue to do exactly that. “I have nothing to hide,” added Mayor Eric Adams.
NEW YORK — FBI agents seized electronic devices from Mayor Eric Adams on Monday night following an event and a few days after authorities conducted a full-scale investigation into the Brooklyn residence of the mayor’s top fundraiser. Democrat, in what appears to be connected to a campaign fundraising case.
The federal investigation would be focusing on his campaign’s fundraising efforts and his possible ties to foreign powers, they told our sister network. NBC New York several sources familiar with the matter.
Both the Democrat’s campaign lawyer and the mayor himself indicated that Adams is collaborating with the authorities and that he has not been accused of any crime.
“After learning of the federal investigation, it was found that an individual had recently acted inappropriately. In the interest of transparency and cooperation, this behavior is immediately and proactively reported to investigators. The mayor has been and remains committed to cooperating on this matter. On Monday night, the FBI approached the mayor after an event. The mayor immediately complied with the FBI’s request and provided them with electronic devices. “The mayor has not been charged with any crime and continues to cooperate with the investigation,” said campaign attorney Boyd Johnson.
“As a former member of law enforcement, I expect all members of my staff to follow the law and cooperate fully with any type of investigation, and they will continue to do exactly that. “I have nothing to hide,” added Mayor Eric Adams.
What is the research
Federal prosecutors in Manhattan have declined to say what the investigation is about, but a search warrant obtained by the New York Times indicated that investigators are examining whether Adams’ campaign conspired with the Turkish government to receive donations from foreign sources. , channeled through front donors.
The warrant sought records related to contributions, trips to Turkey by people linked to the campaign and documents of interactions between the campaign and the Turkish government, or people acting at its behest, the newspaper reported.
These facts about the investigation come after authorities conducted an investigation last Thursday at the Brooklyn residence of Mayor Eric Adams’ top fundraiser, in what appears to be connected to a campaign fundraising case. . This was the reason why the mayor canceled the meetings he had that day at the White House about the immigration crisis, according to his spokeswoman.
The investigation was underway Thursday shortly before noon at a home on Lincoln Place, near Brooklyn Avenue in Crown Heights. According to sources familiar with the matter, the house is linked to Brianna Suggs, Mayor Adams’ top fundraiser.
An FBI spokesperson confirmed that agents were conducting law enforcement activities at the home, but did not share further details about the matter.
A spokesman for Suggs declined to comment. She has not been charged with any crime.
Telemundo 47 and our sister network NBC New York were at the scene where numerous people were seen entering and leaving the residence in Crown Heights. The officers, some dressed in suits, others in tactical gear, carried boxes of evidence from the house to a minivan.
It was not immediately clear whether Suggs was the target of an investigation, although sources familiar with the matter said the search was related in part to questions about campaign fundraising. Calls and text messages to the number listed on Suggs’ website were not returned.
This follows news that Adams abruptly canceled meetings in Washington, D.C., earlier in the day, where he planned to meet with a group of mayors from America’s largest cities and the White House to discuss the ongoing immigration crisis.
Adams arrived in Washington and soon after returned on a plane to New York City.
Hours later it was confirmed that the reason why the mayor canceled his meetings in the United States capital was due to the registry.
“The mayor learned of a campaign-related issue and is taking it seriously, so he wanted to return to New York as quickly as possible,” a spokesman for the mayor said, adding that he, “plans to return to DC and reschedule these meetings as soon as I can.”
The mayor also said Thursday night that no investigators had contacted him about the case.
“Listen, everyone knows me, I follow the rules. We will follow the investigation and we always will. That’s what we do,” Adams told supporters at an event.
It is currently unknown if the mayor’s campaign is connected to the investigation.
Although law enforcement officials did not detail what the FBI search was related to, generally this type of activity observed at the home would mean that a court-authorized search warrant was being executed.
NBC New York also learned that investigators visited a Williamsburg building Thursday seeking information and spoke with a construction company. Campaign finance records showed that at least 11 Adams donors worked at the business. A woman who answered the phone confirmed that police had visited the scene, but she did not comment beyond that.
There was still no indication that Adams himself was directly involved in any investigation. In a statement, an attorney for Adams, Vito Pitta, said the mayor “will of course comply with any investigation, as appropriate,” adding that the campaign “has always been held to the highest standards.”
No arrests have been made in connection with the search or the federal investigation, which appeared to be in its early stages. It was unclear whether the investigation had any connection to an investigation by Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg.
A spokesman for the Manhattan U.S. Attorney’s Office, Nicholas Biase, declined to comment.
The raid comes less than four months after six people were charged with participating in a straw donor conspiracy scheme to divert tens of thousands of dollars to the Adams campaign. Those charges were filed in state court and did not directly implicate the mayor.
A straw donor scheme is essentially a way to circumvent campaign contribution limits by falsely using the names of friends and family as donors.
That case resulted in two guilty pleas from construction company owners who admitted participating in a conspiracy that generated false donations to Adams’ 2021 campaign. Adams’ team has denied any knowledge of the alleged straw donor scheme and said it was not the focus of the investigation. It was unclear if Thursday’s search had anything to do with the other investigation.
The city’s former Buildings Commissioner during the Adams administration, Eric Ulrich, was also accused in September of using his position to dole out favors, including access to the mayor, in exchange for cash and other bribes. Ulrich and the six co-defendants have pleaded not guilty.
Yolanda Vásquez with the interview.
Who is Brianna Suggs?
Suggs did not immediately respond to a request for comment from NBC New York. She has been a campaign consultant for Adams, who raised money for his election effort and also lobbied his administration on behalf of corporate clients.
Suggs has worked closely with Adams since at least 2017, when she joined his staff in the Brooklyn borough president’s office. He later joined her Mayoral campaign, helping raise more than $18.4 million for her primary and general elections, according to his LinkedIn profile.
She has continued to solicit donations for her reelection bid, which has already raised more than $2 million less than halfway through her term. Records show Suggs simultaneously started her own lobbying firm in 2022. Her clients include real estate interests with business before the city, including a Chinatown shopping center that was seeking a lease renewal.
Her dual efforts as a fundraiser and lobbyist have drawn scrutiny from good-government groups, the New York Daily News reported, although she has denied any wrongdoing.
Campaign documents showed numerous donations to Adams from members of the Suggs family who live in the home that was searched. Suggs was said to have shared the house with her father and her grandmother, and neighbors said she grew up on the block.
2023-11-10 21:13:01
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