6 months after FBI raid, investigations into Mayor Adams’ fundraising have only grown

Published May 6, 2024 at 6:31 a.m. ET

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Published May 6, 2024 at 6:31 a.m. ET

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Six months have passed since FBI agents raided the Brooklyn home of Mayor Eric Adams’ campaign fundraiser.

Days after the Nov. 2 raids, federal agents seized Adams’ cell phones and iPad on the streets of Lower Manhattan. In the intervening months, a City Hall aide and a former Turkish airline executive were also searched.

Scrutiny into the mayor’s fundraising had already begun by November, with a case brought by Manhattan’s district attorney that has resulted in multiple guilty pleas from Adams donors and allies.

Other cases have since emerged, bringing the grand total of known investigations into the mayor’s fundraising to four, not including a separate sexual assault claim.

Neither Adams nor his campaign staff have been charged with any wrongdoing, but the multiple inquiries have cast a shadow over his mayoralty and his prospects for a second term.

As New Yorkers await some conclusions and some more answers, here’s a refresher on the many investigations swirling around the mayor.

As the sun rose over Brooklyn on November 2nd, FBI officials in marked vests raided the home of Brianna Suggs, one of the Adams' top fundraisers. Days later, agents stopped Adams himself on the street, demanding access to his phones. The dramatic exchanges stemmed from a probe by federal prosecutors in the Southern District of New York. The office, led by Damian Williams, is known for bringing high-profile public corruption cases.

Following the raids, Adams acknowledged that he was cooperating with the U.S. Attorney’s office.

The search warrants involved three individuals in the mayor’s orbit: Suggs; Rana Abbasova, an aide who worked for Adams both at City Hall and Brooklyn Borough Hall; and Cenk Öcal, an ex-Turkish Airlines executive who served on Adams’ transition team.

Suggs is no longer working as Adams’ fundraiser and has been moved to a different, undisclosed role in the campaign. Abbasova, whose work included helping the mayor cultivate ties in the Turkish community, was placed on unpaid leave after City Hall said she had “acted improperly.”

So far, investigators appear to be exploring connections between Adams and Turkish government officials. FBI agents also raided the offices of a Brooklyn construction company with ties to the Turkish government and whose executives hosted an Adams fundraiser.

One of the questions has centered on whether the mayor helped expedite the opening of a Turkish consulate in Manhattan in exchange for donations. The consulate is part of a broader list of projects that federal prosecutors are said to be examining. Internal emails and documents shared with Gothamist last year show how top City Hall officials intervened on behalf of major companies, including several whose executives held fundraisers or bundled donations for the mayor.

Fire officials have claimed that the Adams administration does special favors for big developers with political influence by ushering them to the front of line for necessary fire safety inspections using an internal priority list.

Adams has denied doing any special favors.

“Every New Yorker that comes to me is serviced,” he said in November. “Whoever calls us, whoever seeks assistance, we help them.”

A second federal investigation surfaced in late February, following an FBI raid on a senior adviser and member of the mayor’s inner circle, Winnie Greco. The raid was part of a probe conducted by Brooklyn federal prosecutors, according to the New York Times.

Greco, who reported directly to the mayor, has served as a key fundraiser within the Chinese community. Her relationship with Adams stretches back to his days as Brooklyn borough president. She is currently on sick leave, following a medical episode that occurred when her two homes were searched.

Brooklyn prosecutors revealed another case in March involving Hui Qin, a Chinese billionaire who pleaded guilty to donating more than $10,000 in straw donations to political candidates including Adams, according to the Times.

The mayor has acknowledged knowing Qin. In April, the Daily News reported photos that showed Adams celebrating his 60th birthday at the magnate’s penthouse at the Plaza Hotel.

Qin’s ex-wife, Emma Liu, served on the mayor’s Asian Affairs Advisory Council, a group led by Greco, according to reporting by The City and Documented.

Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg brought the first investigation into the mayor’s campaign last June, when he indicted six men — including a former NYPD colleague of Adams’ — with funneling illegal straw donations to the mayor’s 2021 campaign. So far, four have pleaded guilty.

The same prosecutors previously charged Adams’ former Buildings Commissioner Eric Ulrich with soliciting and accepting bribes from developers in September 2023. They are accusing Ulrich of trading favors such as rezoning approvals and building permits for a discount on a luxury apartment, artwork and a tailored suit.

One indictment details how Ulrich allegedly conspired with the developer leasing him the apartment to try to clear a homeless shelter for disaster victims across the street.

Ulrich has denied any wrongdoing, and it’s unclear if the investigations are connected.

Adams has repeatedly said he “has nothing to hide,” that he followed fundraising rules and encouraged those in his campaign to do so as well. He’s hired the private white-shoe law firm WilmerHale, which employs his former chief counsel Brendan McGuire, to defend him. He’s also set up a legal defense fund that has so far raked in more than $1.2 million in contributions. Donors include former Mayor Michael Bloomberg, Adams’ former chief of staff Frank Carone, and Brooklyn-based billionaire Alexander Rovt.

But the trust has also returned more than $22,000 from 11 contributors with business before the city, the Daily News first reported, and fired a prominent former detective who was supposed to vet donors shortly after he berated reporters with vulgar language.

Adams has not been publicly accused of wrongdoing. He has also said he hasn’t received indications that he’s a target of the investigations. His chief counsel has said the mayor has been cooperating with prosecutors. Adams himself said he was not contacted by Brooklyn prosecutors regarding Greco.

Meanwhile, federal and city prosecutors have declined to comment extensively on the ongoing investigations. But such probes are typically shrouded in secrecy and their full scope is often unknown until indictments are announced.

The mayor is facing a sexual assault lawsuit from a former transit police colleague over an alleged incident in 1993. In March, Lorna Beach-Mathura filed a civil complaint that accuses Adams of demanding oral sex and forcing her to touch his penis.

Adams has vigorously denied the claims and said he does not recall the accuser. The city’s Law Department is defending the mayor under a decision made by the city’s corporation counsel, Sylvia Hinds-Radix. The Law Department has hired Alex Spiro, a high-profile celebrity attorney, to assist with the case.

In another legal maneuver, Adams has weighed replacing Hinds-Radix with Randy Mastro, a former City Hall aide and attorney known for aggressively representing conservative causes. The nomination has stalled amid heavy opposition from the City Council, which must approve the appointment.

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Elizabeth Kim is a reporter on the People and Power desk who covers mayoral power. She previously covered the pandemic, housing, redevelopment and public spaces. A native of Queens, she speaks fluent Mandarin. Got a tip? Email [email protected]

David is a reporter covering housing for Gothamist and WNYC. Got a tip? Email [email protected] or Signal 908-310-3960.

Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations

Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations

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