Federal brokers stormed Gracie Mansion—the official residence of New York Metropolis Mayor Eric Adams—early Thursday morning, executing a search warrant linked to a looming corruption indictment.
The New York Occasions reported that the raid occurred at roughly 6 a.m. on Thursday.
Reviews counsel that Adams faces a number of fees, together with allegations of performing as an unregistered international agent, following suspicions that his marketing campaign obtained illicit international contributions in trade for favorable political actions.
Whereas the total particulars of the indictment stay sealed, insiders trace that the Southern District of New York is making ready to drop a bombshell case that might finish Adams’ political profession.
The raid comes within the wake of widespread criticism over Adams’ dealing with of New York Metropolis’s mounting points—rising crime, homelessness, and a crumbling infrastructure have plagued his administration. However now, corruption allegations might show to be the ultimate nail within the coffin for his already faltering management.
Alex Spiro, the high-profile legal professional representing Mayor Adams, wasted no time attacking the raid, labeling it a “spectacle.”
In a blistering assertion, Spiro condemned federal brokers for his or her heavy-handed method, stating, “They ship a dozen brokers to choose up a telephone after we would have fortunately turned it in.” He additional added that Adams had not but been arrested and “appears ahead to his day in court docket.”
New assertion from @NYCMayor’s legal professional:
“Federal brokers appeared this morning at Gracie Mansion in an effort to create a spectacle (once more) and take Mayor Adams telephone (once more).” https://t.co/v1QKkvOMqI pic.twitter.com/BdkFhXaWF7
— David Model (@DavidFBrand) September 26, 2024
WATCH:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BBJzdWNrjUQ
U.S. Lawyer for the Southern District of New York, Damian Williams, is scheduled to announce the specifics of the indictment shortly.
New York Metropolis Mayor Eric Adams has been indicted by a federal grand jury on prison fees.
Here’s a timeline of occasions within the federal investigation into Mayor Eric Adams and his inside circle through ABC 7 NY:
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- November 2, 2023 – The FBI launches a serious investigation into Mayor Eric Adams’ 2021 marketing campaign, beginning with a search of key figures’ houses. Federal brokers search the Brooklyn residence of Brianna Suggs, a high fundraiser for Adams, and the New Jersey residence of Rana Abbasova, the mayor’s worldwide affairs aide. That very same day, Adams flies to Washington, D.C., solely to abruptly return to New York, canceling conferences scheduled with the White Home.
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- November 6, 2023 – Mayor Adams faces direct scrutiny because the FBI seizes his private digital units, together with his iPad and cellphone. Sources point out that investigators are wanting into whether or not Adams’ marketing campaign obtained unlawful international donations from Turkey.
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- February 29, 2024 – The FBI continues its investigation, this time specializing in Winnie Greco, Adams’ Director of Asian Affairs. Federal brokers search her Bronx residence as a part of the continued probe.
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- April 5, 2024 – The FBI is investigating whether or not Mayor Adams obtained free upgrades on Turkish Airways flights throughout his 2021 mayoral marketing campaign,
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- July 2024 – The federal investigation heats up, with grand jury subpoenas issued to Adams in what sources describe as a corruption probe. Prosecutors are reportedly wanting into whether or not the mayor’s marketing campaign pressured the fireplace division to expedite inspections of the brand new Turkish consulate in trade for donations from Turkey.
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- September 4, 2024 – The investigation reaches Adams’ inside circle. FBI brokers search the houses of First Deputy Mayor Sheena Wright and her fiancé, Faculties Chancellor David Banks, who had his telephones seized. In addition they search the Queens residence of Deputy Mayor for Public Security Phil Banks, together with enterprise advisor Terence Banks, confiscating varied digital units.
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- September 5, 2024 – 4 high-ranking NYPD officers, together with NYPD Commissioner Edward Caban and his twin brother James Caban, are subpoenaed by federal investigators. Tim Pearson, a detailed advisor to Mayor Adams, additionally has his telephone seized.
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- September 12, 2024 – Commissioner Caban resigns, citing the continued investigations as a “distraction” to town’s work. His departure indicators additional fallout from the increasing probe.
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- September 14, 2024 – Lisa Zornberg, Chief Counsel at Metropolis Corridor, resigns after advising Mayor Adams on authorized technique for over a yr. In a quick letter, Zornberg states she will now not serve successfully in her function, elevating questions in regards to the authorized stability surrounding the Adams administration.
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- September 16, 2024 – The FBI arrests two retired FDNY chiefs, Brian Cordasco and Anthony Saccavino, as a part of a year-long corruption investigation linked to the probe into Mayor Adams’ administration.
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- September 20, 2024 – Federal prosecutors problem a subpoena to Molly Schaeffer, the director overseeing New York Metropolis’s Workplace for Asylum Seekers, additional increasing the scope of the investigation into Metropolis Corridor operations.
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- September 21, 2024 – Federal brokers search the house of Interim NYPD Commissioner Thomas Donlon. Although Donlon claims the search is unrelated to the police division, its timing raises eyebrows.
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- September 23, 2024 – New York Metropolis Well being Commissioner Ashwin Vasan proclaims his resignation, efficient by January 2025. Vasan insists his determination is to spend extra time with household and denies any connection to the federal investigation.
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- September 24, 2024 – One other main determine steps down as New York Metropolis Faculties Chancellor David Banks proclaims his retirement, including to the rising listing of high-level resignations amid the continued probe.
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- September 24, 2024 – The FBI expanded its investigation into potential unlawful international donations, specializing in Adams’ suspicious connections with at the least six international international locations, together with Turkey, Israel, China, Qatar, South Korea, and Uzbekistan.
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- September 25, 2024 – Mayor Eric Adams is indicted by a grand jury within the federal corruption investigation, marking a pivotal second within the probe that has rocked his administration.
