Brianna Suggs, the fundraiser for New York Mayor Eric Adams, the center of an FBI investigation for alleged corruption through illegal donations to the municipal executive’s campaign, is known in the politician’s circle as one of his allies. trust.
When Suggs joined Adams’ campaign in 2021 in order for him to become mayor, he was 23 years old.
By then, the woman became responsible for leading the candidate’s fundraising efforts.
On his LinkedIn account, Suggs presents himself as a person who worked closely with the candidate, overseeing the day-to-day operations and managing logistical movements. In his profile, he also highlights that he helped raise about $18.4 million for the primary and general elections.
Agents from the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) raided Suggs’ home in Crown Heights, Brooklyn, on Thursday.
At least until the date of the operation, Suggs continued to be part of the president’s team. Data handled by The New York Times indicates that Suggs’ efforts have translated into $2.5 million dollars for Adams’ re-election.
The link between the mayor and Suggs would have been the result of the intervention of his senior aide Ingrid Lewis-Martin.
The Politico report, which cites a person in the mayor’s inner circle, notes that Lewis-Martin referred to Suggs as her goddaughter.
“She is like a child,” the source described to the outlet.
“She is not meticulous,” the person added.
“These types of things are not going to bring him down, they are only going to take out people around him,” the interviewee anticipated.
Federal authorities in the Big Apple are seeking to determine whether Adams received illegal campaign donations from officials in Turkey through members of his team.
There is no data, at this time, linking Eric Adams to the alleged scheme
At this time, there is no data that suggests that Adams is involved in the alleged scheme or that he has knowledge of it. Speaking from Gracie Mansion at a Day of the Dead event, the mayor said he has not been contacted or interviewed by authorities.
But, if that happens, it will provide all the information that is required.
FBI agents seized financial files and campaign documents
Other reports from national media such as The Hill highlight that, as part of the operation, the agents took financial files from Suggs or any entity controlled or associated with it; documents from Adams’ 2021 campaign, employee trips to Turkey and interactions between the campaign team and that country.
During the visit, officers also confiscated Suggs’ cell phone, a laptop, and a tablet.
Court documents reviewed by The New York Post and THE CITY showed that a dozen employees of a Brooklyn-based construction company donated to Adams’ campaign on the same day and in virtually the same amounts.
Alleged involvement of KSK Construction Group
According to press articles, KSK Construction Group would have conspired with the politician’s campaign and with government authorities in Turkey to use “front donors” to illegally make donations with money from abroad in exchange for receiving remuneration or favors from the president’s Administration. .
A “front donor” is a person or company that illegally donates under another’s name, but uses their own to hide the source.
Sertac Varol is one of those who appears in campaign files as a partner of KSK. In the documents he is listed as donating $1,250 to Adams’ campaign. However, he stated that he does not remember making the donation.
Varol went further to claim that he does not believe he has made any political contribution in his life.
Varol is just one of the KSK employees listed as donating equal or similar amounts of money on the same day: May 7, 2021.
THE CITY report also notes that city regulators repeatedly questioned the Adams campaign about a group of donations that are now part of the federal investigation.
The alleged donations were made at an event hosted by KSK Construction owner Erden Arkan at Abraham Erdos’ home in Brooklyn. In the case of Erdos, he had donated $2,000 to Adams’ campaign a year earlier.
In total, $69,720 was raised from 84 donors for Adams’ campaign at that event. The campaign team used the money to seek $63,760 in public matching funds, according to information handled by the local media.
NYC Mayor insists he has not committed an illegal act
In statements this Friday, Adams again rejected any link to the alleged scheme or commission of an illegal act.
“I am outraged and upset if someone tried to use my campaign to manipulate our democracy and defraud our campaign,” he said.
“I want to be clear, I have no knowledge, direct or otherwise, of any improper fundraising activity, and certainly of money coming from any foreign country,” he continued.
“We will of course work with officials to respond to these requests, as appropriate, as we always have,” he said.
Keep reading:
FBI investigates NY Mayor Eric Adams’ campaign and possible illegal donations from Türkiye