FBI seized phones, iPad from New York City Mayor Eric Adams

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FBI agents executed the seizure of Mayor Eric Adams’ phones and an iPad in New York City earlier this week as part of an inquiry into his campaign fundraising activities, according to a statement released by his attorney, Boyd Johnson, on Friday.

The incident occurred after an event held on Monday night when the FBI approached the mayor. Mayor Adams promptly complied with the FBI’s request, surrendering his electronic devices. Johnson’s statement emphasized that the mayor has not faced any allegations of wrongdoing and continues to cooperate fully with the ongoing investigation.

The confiscation of these electronic devices, initially reported by The New York Times, followed federal agents’ search of the Brooklyn residence of Brianna Suggs, a key fundraiser for Adams’ campaign. This development led Mayor Adams to cancel a scheduled trip to meet with White House officials in Washington, opting to return to New York instead.

During a meeting with reporters on Wednesday, Mayor Adams did not make any public statements regarding the seizure of his devices. He also maintained that he was unaware of any improper conduct by members of his campaign team.

In a statement issued on Friday, Johnson reiterated Mayor Adams’ commitment to cooperating with the investigation. Johnson mentioned that upon learning of the federal inquiry, they discovered an individual who had acted improperly. In the spirit of transparency and cooperation, this misconduct was promptly reported to investigators, although no further details were provided.

A spokesperson for the U.S. attorney in Manhattan declined to offer any comments regarding the case.

Mayor Adams, a Democrat and a former police captain, stated, “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.”

The precise focus of the investigation has not been disclosed publicly by prosecutors. However, a search warrant obtained by The New York Times suggests that authorities are exploring whether the Adams campaign collaborated with the Turkish government to receive contributions from foreign sources, routed through intermediary donors.

Mayor Adams asserted on Wednesday that he possessed no personal knowledge of any inappropriate fundraising activities and did not believe he had any reason to fear the investigation personally. Both Mayor Adams and Brianna Suggs have not been publicly accused of any wrongdoing.

At that time, the mayor’s chief City Hall attorney had confirmed that the administration was in communication with federal prosecutors but declined to provide specifics on the nature of those discussions.

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• ABC News – Investigation Focuses on Adams Campaign and Turkish Government
• CBS News – Mayor Adams Complies with FBI Request