NYC Mayor Eric Adams corruption probe: The latest on the investigation

Federal prosecutors’ scrutiny of New York City Mayor Eric Adams’ political fundraising includes a focus on potentially illegal campaign donations, free flight upgrades to the highest class of seats and allegations of undue pressure he allegedly exerted on the FDNY to sign off on the Turkish government’s skyscraper consulate in midtown Manhattan despite numerous safety “deficiencies” identified by inspectors.

The FBI also has raided homes of Adams’ confidants and seized his electronic devices. And a grand jury has reportedly been reviewing evidence.

As Adams — a Democrat elected mayor in 2021 as a former NYPD captain promising to combat crime — seeks reelection in 2025, here are answers to key questions about the public corruption investigation.

Why are federal prosecutors investigating Adams and his circle?

The mayor and some of those in his circle, including a fundraiser and several high-ranking officials, have been dogged by allegations relating to favoritism toward those who donated to Adams’ political campaigns. Some of those contributions appear to have been by straw donors. (With straw donations, which are illegal, contributors mask their true identity by using someone else’s. Sometimes that other person is reimbursed; sometimes that other person isn’t aware the name had been used.)

What have Adams and his attorneys said about the investigation?

Adams has not been charged with a crime. A statement from the mayor, issued after the seizure of his devices, has said he’s done nothing wrong and has “nothing to hide,” adding: “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.” His chief counsel at City Hall, Lisa Zornberg — herself a former federal prosecutor who was chief of the criminal division at the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of New York — has said: “There has been no indication that I’ve seen that the mayor is a target.” Last week, he said it was “stupid” to ask about the prospect of an indictment.

What is the alleged role of the Turkish government in the case?

Investigators are reportedly looking into whether Adams’ mayoral campaign conspired with the Turkish government to channel foreign money to help Adams win in 2021.

What was Adams’ involvement with a Turkish government high-rise in Manhattan?

Soon after winning the Democratic mayoral primary two years ago, Adams reached out to then-FDNY Commissioner Daniel Nigro and asked him to let the building allow occupancy. The FDNY had rejected a fire safety plan submitted by a consultant for the Turks.

Soon after Adams intervened, and the building was able to open, the Turkish president, Recep Tayyip Erdogan, presided over the grand opening during a visit for the United Nations General Assembly.

What happened when the FBI seized Adams’ electronic devices?

In November, FBI agents approached Adams as he was leaving a public event in Manhattan, asked his NYPD bodyguards to step aside, and seized his cellphones and an iPad. 

Who are the Adams associates whose homes have been raided?

Less than a week before Adams’ devices were seized, federal agents went to Brooklyn to raid the home of Adams’ top campaign fundraiser, Brianna Suggs. A search warrant said the raid was related to an investigation into KSK Construction, a firm owned by Turkish immigrants, which helped hold a fundraiser for Adams in 2021. Filings made public earlier this month show that she’s still working for, and being paid by, Adams’ campaign.

Agents also raided the home of Adams aide Rana Abbasova, who helped him make inroads with the city’s Turks and Azerbaijanis and assisted in setting up meetings with foreign governments. (Abbasova is reportedly cooperating with prosecutors.) Earlier this year, agents raided two Bronx homes owned by City Hall Asian affairs adviser Winnie Greco, who was involved in fundraising events at a Flushing mall that has ties to potential illegal straw donations and also was raided by agents.

What sort of alleged special treatment did Adams receive on flights?

The federal investigation is examining upgrades on international trips that Adams received from Turkish Airlines, a probe that also has led to the FBI search of the home of a former top executive in New York of Turkish Airlines. Adams has attended meetings and other events with representatives of the airline, which is partly owned by the country’s sovereign wealth fund. Some of the flight upgrades reportedly were coordinated involving the airline executive and Abbasova. Adams got upgrades as Brooklyn borough president and later as mayor, both on personal and official trips.

Adams and his team use the term ‘review’ instead of 'investigation.’ Why?

Adams isn’t the first embattled politician to choose the term “review” during an investigation. During the 2021 probe of then-Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo that led to his resignation, he and his team also eschewed “investigation” for “review.”

As for the Adams team's use of the term, Zornberg declined to explain when asked earlier this month.

“I’m not sure I even get the question,” she told Newsday. “It seems like you're trying to just ask about — I think that's a colloquial term, and I’m not going to get into it.”

By Matthew Chayes

matthew.chayes@newsday.comchayesmatthew

Matthew Chayes, a Newsday reporter since 2007, covers New York City.