Mayor Adams indictment: Timeline of federal investigations
NEW YORK CITY (PIX11) – Mayor Eric Adams’ historic indictment on federal criminal charges Wednesday night trails a tumultuous year of investigations into Adams and key city officials.
News of federal investigations into Adams’ administration first broke in November 2023, when the home of a top fundraiser for Adams’ mayoral campaign, Brianna Suggs, was raided.
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Investigations have escalated over the year, culminating this September with a slew of top officials resigning and the historic indictment of Adams.
Here is a timeline of federal investigations into Mayor Eric Adams, his inner circle, and other top city officials:
November 2023: Federal investigators search the home of Brianna Suggs, a top fundraiser for Adams during his mayoral campaign, and Rana Abbasova, who worked in the mayor’s international affairs office. At the time, Adams tells PIX11 News he has “full confidence” in Suggs’ integrity. Agents search the home of Adams’ liaison to the Turkish community in New York.
November 2023: Days after the search of Suggs’ home, FBI agents stop Adams after a public event in Manhattan and seize his cellphones and iPad.
February 2024: The FBI raids the home of Winnie Greco, Adams’ director of Asian affairs.
July 2024: Federal investigators expand their probe into Adams’ potential dealings with other countries and request information about Israel, China, Qatar, South Korea and Uzbekistan, the New York Times reported.
September 2024: The FBI raids the home shared by New York City Public Schools Chancellor David Banks and First Deputy Mayor Sheena Wright, sources tell PIX11 News. Investigators also raid the home of Philip Banks, the deputy mayor of public safety and brother of the schools chancellor. Sources tell PIX11 News this investigation is separate from Adams’ campaign probe.
September 2024: Federal investigators seize the phones of NYPD Commissioner Edward Caban and other NYPD Lieutenants. Sources tell PIX11 News this investigation is also unrelated to the Adams campaign probe and the Banks-Wright raid.
September 2024: A handful of top officials resign from their posts, including NYPD Commissioner Edward Caban, NYC Public Schools Chancellor David Banks, chief legal counsel Lisa Zornberg, and New York City Health Commissioner Ashwin Vasan. Many say their decisions are unrelated to ongoing federal investigations.
September 2024: Shortly after he is announced as the interim NYPD commissioner, the FBI searches the home of Thomas Donlon. In a statement Wednesday night, Adams uses the search of Donlon as proof the government is targeting his administration.
Sept. 25, 2024: Adams becomes the first mayor in New York City’s history to be indicted on federal criminal charges, according to sources.
Sept. 26, 2024: Federal authorities were seen arriving at Gracie Mansion. Agents searched the mayor’s residence starting around 6 a.m., according to the New York Times.
Sept. 26, 2024: Mayor Eric Adams was charged with accepting bribes and illegal campaign contributions from foreign sources, unsealed court documents show.
Sept. 26, 2024: Federal investigators unseal a 57-page indictment accusing the mayor of accepting illegal campaign donations during his 2021 mayoral campaign.
Emily Rahhal is a digital reporter from Los Angeles who has covered New York City since 2023. She joined PIX11 in 2024. See more of her work here and follow her on Twitter here.
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