The FBI seized communication devices belonging to Democrat New York City Mayor Eric Adams this week as part of a corruption probe into his 2021 campaign.

“The feds seized the devices in connection to an investigation into whether Hizzoner’s campaign colluded with the Turkish government and others to direct money into his mayoral effort,” the New York Post reports.

The New York Times first reported on the developments.

Collin Rugg writes:

The FBI has seized New York City Mayor Eric Adams’s phones relating to a federal corruption investigation The investigation is reportedly looking into whether his campaign conspired with the Turkish government.

According to the New York Times, FBI agents climbed into Adams’s SUV with him and seized his cellphones and an iPad.

“The agents approached the mayor on the street and asked his security detail to step away, one of the people said. They climbed into his S.U.V. with him,” the NYT reported.

Earlier in the month, Adams’s top fundraiser Brianna Suggs was raided by the FBI over the allegations that the Turkish government was funneling money to Adams’s campaign.

Federal investigators are also looking into whether or not Adams or his team gave any special benefit to Turkey in exchange for the alleged donations.

When the initial raid took place on Suggs, Adams had just landed in Washington D.C. to meet with White House officials about the ongoing migrant crisis.

Upon news of the raid on Suggs, Adams immediately cancelled the meeting and flew back to New York City.

From the New York Post:

The agents then got into Adams’ SUV with him and executed a court-authorized warrant to seize his devices — including at least two cellphones and an iPad.

The electronics were returned to the mayor within a few days, the sources said.

“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,” Boyd Johnson, the mayor’s attorney, said in a statement, according to the Associated Press.

“The mayor has not been accused of any wrongdoing and continues to cooperate with the investigation,” he added.

AP reports:

Adams, a Democrat, said nothing publicly about his phones being seized when he met with reporters on Wednesday and said he wasn’t aware of any wrongdoing by members of his campaign team.

In a statement Friday, Johnson said Adams was committed to cooperating with the probe.

“After learning of the federal investigation, it was discovered that an individual had recently acted improperly. In the spirit of transparency and cooperation, this behavior was immediately and proactively reported to investigators,” he said, offering no further details.

A spokesperson for the U.S. attorney in Manhattan declined to comment.

“As a former member of law enforcement, I expect all members of my staff to follow the law and fully cooperate with any sort of investigation—and I will continue to do exactly that. I have nothing to hide,” Adams, a former police captain, said in a statement.

The focus of the investigation hasn’t been publicly disclosed by prosecutors, but a search warrant obtained by the New York Times indicated authorities are examining whether the Adams campaign conspired with the Turkish government to receive donations from foreign sources, funneled through straw donors.

Adams on Wednesday said he had no personal knowledge of any improper fundraising, and didn’t believe he had anything to personally fear from the investigation. Neither Adams nor Suggs have been publicly accused of wrongdoing.

 

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