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Federal prosecutors are now researching New York City Mayor Eric Adams’ ties to five other countries concerning an investigation into his campaign.
According to the New York Times, the federal investigation of New York City Mayor Eric Adams and his ties to the Turkish government has now expanded to include five other countries, according to sources. The request for information is linked to the sweeping grand jury subpoenas that were issued to a swath of City Hall back in July. The primary goal of the investigation for prosecutors was to determine whether Adams conspired with the Turkish government to illegally funnel foreign donations into his campaign back in 2021. The five countries prosecutors requested information about are Israel, China, Qatar, South Korea, and Uzbekistan.
The specific information that the federal authorities are looking for in this new batch of subpoenas includes information on records concerning tickets to the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, which Adams attended, as well as data on New York Police Department booths outside of foreign consulates and Adams’ use of the encrypted Signal app. Prosecutors are also looking into allegations of Adams receiving free flights and upgrades from Turkish Airlines, as well as the allegations that he pressured the New York Fire Department into approving a high-rise consulate building in Midtown
They also sought more information about the former Turkish Consul General Reyhan Özgür and Arda Sayiner, a brand influencer based in Turkey who has ties to Rana Abbasova. Abbasova was a former Adams liaison to Turkey and worked in his international affairs office until her home was raided by federal authorities last November. Ms. Abbasova is now cooperating fully with the government’s investigation. The July subpoenas had been issued after FBI agents had seized Mayor Adams’ phones after stopping him outside of an event he was attending last November.
Fabien Levy, a spokesperson for City Hall said officials weren’t going to comment on the subpoenas “but, as we have repeatedly said, we will continue to fully comply with any law enforcement inquiry.” At his weekly press conference, Adams defended his policies. “We continue to progress…that is what I must do,” he said. “I’ve always done that for New Yorkers, and I will continue to do that.” To date, Adams’ administration has been rocked by resignations after federal seizures of devices including former NYPD commissioner Edward Caban.
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As the top fundraiser to New York City Mayor Eric Adams had their home raided by the FBI, reports revealed additional raids on two other aides were conducted.
According to reports, on the same day that the Federal Bureau of Investigation raided the Brooklyn home of Brianna Suggs, the agency executed search warrants on two other homes of people close to Mayor Eric Adams.
Unnamed sources close to the investigation confirmed that the homes of Rana Abbasova and Cenk Öcal were searched on the same day of the Suggs raid. Abbasova currently serves as the director of protocol for the Mayor’s Office for International Affairs and was previously a longtime liaison to New York City’s Turkish community when Adams was Brooklyn Borough President, and Öcal was part of his transition team and a former Turkish Airlines executive who was let go in 2022 after a shakeup.
The searches were conducted at Abbasova’s home in Fort Lee, New Jersey, and Öcal’s home which is also in New Jersey. The news follows a report that Abbasova was placed on leave earlier this week. When questioned by reporters, Fabian Levy, the Deputy Mayor of Communications, replied: “As we have repeatedly said, we recently learned of an individual who acted improperly, which we promptly reported to investigators. While we continue to cooperate with investigators, the most important thing to remember is that the mayor has not been accused of any wrongdoing.” Abbasova and Öcal didn’t respond to comments from the press.
Federal authorities conducted the searches on Suggs’ home and the other parties as part of an ongoing investigation into the 2021 campaign of Mayor Adams to detect if there was any conspiracy between Adams’ campaign and the Turkish government to funnel foreign donations into the campaign vault as well as to investigate if the Turkish government exerted influence on Mayor Adams to pressure New York Fire Department officials to bypass safety concerns for a new high-rise building housing the Turkish consulate to be completed. Mayor Adams also had his electronic devices seized last Monday (November 6) by federal authorities on the way to an event in conjunction with the raid on Suggs’ home.
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The home of a top consultant to New York City Mayor Eric Adams was raided by the FBI, prompting Adams to cancel a major trip to head back to the city.
In the early morning hours on Thursday (Nov. 2), agents with the FBI conducted a raid on the Crown Heights home of Brianna Suggs. Suggs is the top fund-raiser for New York City Mayor Eric Adams and an esteemed campaign consultant of his. Suggs was also reportedly questioned by agents, who left with three iPhones, two computers and files bearing Adams’ name from her home. Federal agents also executed the search warrant at the KSK Construction Group in Williamsburg, Brooklyn, in addition to other residences. Investigators are also looking into a small college outside of Washington D.C. with ties to Turkey.
Suggs has been a strong fund-raiser for Mayor Adams, helping his successful campaign obtain $18.4 million in funding. She was also working on his 2025 reelection campaign, with reports saying that $900,000 has been raised so far. The FBI warrant is tied to an ongoing investigation to determine whether Adams’ campaign conspired with the construction company and the Turkish government to direct foreign money to the campaign by using straw donors in 2021. Adams has previously been vocal about his trips to Turkey, saying, “I think I’m on my sixth or seventh visit,” during a flag-raising ceremony for the nation in lower Manhattan last week.
News of the raid led Mayor Adams to abruptly cancel a series of meetings with other city mayors in Washington D.C. concerning the ongoing migrant crisis in New York to head back home with his team. When asked about his hurried return by reporters later that evening at a Dia De Los Muertos event at Gracie Mansion, he said he would comply with any inquiries from federal authorities. “I feel extremely comfortable about how I comply with rules and procedures,” Adams said. “I hold myself to a high standard, and I hold my campaign to a high standard, and I hold my staff at City Hall to a high standard.”
The raid comes weeks after another high-ranking figure close to Mayor Adams, former city buildings commissioner Eric Ulrich, was indicted and charged with using his position to extract bribes in the form of cash and other gifts for favors, which included access to Mayor Adams.
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