The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and prosecutors in Manhattan are leading a corruption probe that seeks to determine whether Eric Adams’ New York mayoral campaign conspired with the Turkish government to benefit from illegal donations, The New York Times reported yesterday. .
As part of the investigations, FBI agents raided the Brooklyn home of Brianna Suggs, head of fundraising for the Adams campaign, early Thursday morning.
Although Suggs does not work directly at the Mayor’s Office, she is a key campaign consultant and is committed to the president’s agenda.
Suggs, who has not made any statements to the press, is an essential part of the Adams campaign’s fundraising efforts ahead of the re-election race. According to the newspaper, the efforts have so far translated into more than $2.5 million dollars.
The woman was interviewed yesterday by federal agents who arrived at her residence in Crown Heights, according to the report.
Allegedly, investigators from one of the anti-corruption teams of the FBI office in New York questioned the tax collector.
Officers reportedly served Suggs with a subpoena to testify before a federal grand jury in Manhattan tasked with evaluating evidence in the case.
The investigation focuses on a Brooklyn construction company that has ties to Turkey and a small university in Washington, DC, which also has an association with that country and with Adams.
According to the search warrant cited by the NYT, the investigation seeks to determine whether the municipal executive’s campaign in any way benefited officials and employees of the construction company and Turkish officials. The document suggests that some of the foreign campaign contributions were made as part of a straw donor scheme in which donations were processed on behalf of people who did not actually give money. If the evidence supports the authorities’ suspicions, charges such as theft of federal funds and conspiracy to appropriate federal funds and wire fraud, among others, would be sustained.
As part of the operation, agents seized three iPhones and two laptop computers, as well as documents and other materials.
Officers reportedly confiscated a “manila envelope labeled Eric Adams” and seven folders that included contribution cards.
At this time, there is no indication that the investigations link the mayor to illegal acts.
Shortly after the news broke in local media, Adams returned to New York immediately. The official was traveling to Washington, DC to meet with White House officials about the immigration crisis involving asylum seekers in the city when he decided to return.
Although it was not officially indicated that the raid was the reason, for many it is more than evident that the move had to do with federal intervention.
New York mayor responds to FBI investigation
At an event last night as part of the Day of the Dead at Gracie Mansion, Adams highlighted the “high ethical standards” that govern his campaign.
The mayor said he had not been contacted by any law enforcement agency, but added that he would cooperate with any requests for information.
“Any request that is made, we are going to participate fully and make sure it is done the right way,” he declared.
On previous occasions, the mayor has boasted of his ties to Türkiye. The most recent was last week at a flag-raising ceremony in Lower Manhattan. At the time, Adams indicated that there is probably no other mayor in the history of New York who has visited that country so many times.
The Democrat has visited the country at least six times, according to what he revealed. One of these was when he was serving as Brooklyn Borough President.
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FBI raids Brooklyn home of NY Mayor Eric Adams’ fundraiser