Federal prosecutors have intensified their corruption investigation into New York Mayor Eric Adams’ 2021 campaign. In July 2024, they issued three grand jury subpoenas to Adams, City Hall and his election committee. Prosecutors requested communications, travel records and documents. The subpoenas, served last month, were recently uncovered by The New York Times and confirmed by the mayor’s office on Thursday, Aug. 15.
The investigation, active for nearly nine months, focuses on whether Adams’ campaign received illegal foreign donations from the Turkish government. It also looks into flight upgrades Adams received from Turkish Airlines and whether he pressured the New York City Fire Department to approve a Turkish consulate building in Manhattan despite safety concerns.
In November 2023, FBI agents stopped the mayor after a Manhattan event, asking his security detail to step aside. Agents then seized his phones and iPad as part of the ongoing investigation.
Days earlier, agents raided the home of his former fundraiser, Brianna Suggs, seizing electronic devices and documents.
The investigation began in 2021, before Adams took office.
Adams has consistently denied any wrongdoing, emphasizing his cooperation with authorities. His legal team, which includes former federal prosecutors, conducted its own investigation and found no evidence of illegal conduct. That team shared its findings with the U.S. attorney.
