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In spring 2023, [1] the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York [2] began a corruption investigation into alleged straw donors from the government of Turkey through construction company KSK Construction to the 2021 campaign of New York City mayor Eric Adams.
Adams's fundraising efforts have attracted scrutiny. In 2018, real estate developer David Schwartz met with Adams, then-borough president of Brooklyn, and donated to his campaign. Adams endorsed zoning changes sought by Slate Property Group, Schwartz's company, to construct a skyscraper taller than as allowed by zoning laws. [3] In May 2021, employees of the Brooklyn construction firm KSK Construction donated a total of US$14,000 to Adams's mayoral campaign, allowing the campaign to qualify for US$18,000 in public matching funds. According to Politico , of the firm's eleven employees, ten had not made a prior political donation; co-owner Erden Arkan last donated to former Brooklyn borough president Marty Markowitz's campaign in 2009. [4]
Adams has boasted his support for Turkey, stating that no other mayor in New York City history had visited the country as much as he did. [5] In August 2015, the consulate-general of Turkey paid for Adams's trip to the country. After securing the Democratic mayoral primary in July, Adams urged then-fire commissioner Daniel A. Nigro to allow the government of Turkey to occupy the Turkish House; the New York City Fire Department declined to sign off on the building, citing fire safety issues. [1] During his borough presidency, Adams met with Turkish president Recep Tayyip Erdoğan. [6]
On November 2, 2023, investigators raided the Brooklyn home of Brianna Suggs, Adams's chief fundraiser. The search warrant, obtained by The New York Times , states agents seized three iPhones, two laptops, contribution card binders, and other documents. [5] The Federal Bureau of Investigation searched a dozen locations that day, [7] including the residence of former Turkish Airlines executive Cenk Öcal and international affairs aide Rana Abbasova. [8] On November 3, investigators questioned Nigro over the Turkish House. [1] Days after the raid at Suggs's home, the Federal Bureau of Investigation seized at least two of Adams's cellphones and an iPad. Adams's campaign cooperated with the FBI's request. [9] The New York Times initially reported the seizures. [2]
On February 29, 2024, The New York Times reported that the FBI searched two houses owned by Winnie Greco, Adams's Asian affairs advisor. [10] [11] On April 5, the Times reported that the FBI is investigating flight upgrades Adams purportedly received on Turkish Airlines flights. [12]
Adams canceled several meetings at the White House to discuss the New York City migrant housing crisis following the raid. At a Day of the Dead celebration at Gracie Mansion that night, Adams stated that his campaign was up to the "highest ethical standards". [5] Adams denied the accusations at a press conference at New York City Hall press conference the following week, disclosing that he had retained the law firm Wilmer Cutler Pickering Hale and Dorr. [13]
Following a report from The New York Times that Adams was being investigated over the construction of the Turkish House, Adams further denied wrongdoing [14] and assured that he would continue to cooperate with investigators. [15] Adams and the City Hall's chief counsel requested the Federal Bureau of Investigation cease leaks of its investigation. [16]
Brooklyn Democratic Party chairwoman Rodneyse Bichotte Hermelyn questioned if the inquiry was related to Adams' race. [17] State senator Leroy Comrie called the investigation a witch hunt. [18]
Representative Brandon Williams accused the investigation of being a "weaponization of the justice system" against Adams' critical comments towards president Joe Biden. New York City Council minority leader Joe Borelli defended Adams on Twitter. [18]
The New York Post 's editorial board questioned if the investigation could be political retribution. Politico compared the rhetoric among Adams's supporters with Donald Trump's supporters. [18]
Curtis Sliwa is an American activist, radio talk show host, and founder and chief executive officer of the Guardian Angels, a nonprofit crime prevention organization. Sliwa was the Republican nominee for the 2021 New York City mayoral election, which he lost to Brooklyn borough president Eric Adams.
Letitia Ann James is an American lawyer and politician serving since 2019 as the Attorney General of New York (NYAG), having won the 2018 election to succeed Barbara Underwood. A member of the Democratic Party, James is the first African American and first woman to be elected New York Attorney General.
Eric Leroy Adams is an American politician and former police officer, currently serving as the 110th mayor of New York City since 2022. An ideologically moderate member of the Democratic Party, Adams was an officer in the New York City Transit Police and then the New York City Police Department (NYPD) for more than 20 years, retiring at the rank of captain. He served in the New York State Senate from 2006 to 2013, representing the 20th Senate district in Brooklyn. In November 2013, Adams was elected Brooklyn Borough President, the first African-American to hold the position, and reelected in November 2017.
The Board of Elections in the City of New York (NYCBOE) conducts New York elections within New York City, United States. It is an administrative body of ten Commissioners, two from each borough upon recommendation by both political parties and then appointed by the New York City Council for a term of four years.
Eric Ulrich is an American politician from the state of New York. A Republican, Ulrich represented the 32nd district on the New York City Council from 2009 to 2021. In 2022, he served as New York City Buildings Commissioner and as senior advisor to Democratic New York City Mayor Eric Adams. On September 13, 2023, Ulrich was arrested on 16 felony corruption charges; he pleaded not guilty.
Michael Gerard Grimm is an American politician and convicted felon, who represented New York in the United States Congress from 2011 to 2015 until his conviction and resignation from Congress. Grimm represented New York's 13th congressional district during his first term, after which he represented New York's 11th congressional district. Both districts consisted of Staten Island and parts of Brooklyn. Grimm is a member of the Republican Party; during his time in office was the sole Republican to represent a significant portion of New York City.
Loretta Elizabeth Lynch is an American lawyer who served as the 83rd attorney general of the United States from 2015 to 2017. She was appointed by President Barack Obama to succeed Eric Holder and previously served as the United States Attorney for the Eastern District of New York under Presidents Bill Clinton (1999–2001), George W. Bush (2001) and Obama (2010–2015). As a U.S. attorney, Lynch oversaw federal prosecutions in Brooklyn, Queens, Staten Island, and Long Island.
Louis A. Molina is an American police officer and Assistant Deputy Mayor for Public Safety for the City of New York. He was the 37th Commissioner of the New York City Department of Correction. He was formerly the Chief of the Department of Public Safety for the City of Las Vegas and detective with the New York Police Department.
Michael Dean Cohen is an American former lawyer who served as an attorney for former United States president Donald Trump from 2006 to 2018. Cohen served as vice president of the Trump Organization and personal counsel to Trump, often being described as his fixer. Cohen served as co-president of Trump Entertainment and was a board member of the Eric Trump Foundation, a children's health charity. From 2017 to 2018, Cohen was deputy finance chairman of the Republican National Committee.
Allen Howard Weisselberg is an American businessman who was convicted of tax evasion in connection with his role as former chief financial officer (CFO) of the Trump Organization. Weisselberg served as a co-trustee of a trust set up in 2017 by Donald Trump before Trump's inauguration as president of the United States. In 2022, Weisselberg pleaded guilty to 15 criminal charges including grand larceny, criminal tax fraud and falsifying business records. In January 2023, he began serving a five-month jail sentence and was released the following April. A ruling which was handed down in February 2024 also resulted in Weisselberg being permanently banned from serving in financial control function of any New York corporation or business, and also banned him from being serving as a director or officer for any New York corporation or business for three years.
The 2021 New York City mayoral election was held on November 2, 2021. Incumbent Mayor Bill de Blasio was term-limited and ineligible to run for re-election.
Kathryn A. Garcia is an American public official serving as Director of State Operations for the state of New York. She served as commissioner for the New York City Sanitation Department from 2014 to 2020 and was a candidate in the 2021 New York City Democratic mayoral primary, losing by 0.8 percentage points to Eric Adams.
The Turkish House is a 561-foot-high (171 m), 36-floor skyscraper located at 821 United Nations Plaza in Turtle Bay, Manhattan, New York City, United States, across from the headquarters of the United Nations. Turkish House serves as the headquarters of multiple Turkish diplomatic missions in New York City, as well as a center of Turkish cultural activity.
The Democratic Party primary for the 2021 New York City mayoral election took place on June 22, 2021. Brooklyn Borough President Eric Adams defeated 12 other candidates, including Kathryn Garcia, Maya Wiley and Andrew Yang. Adams went on to defeat Republican Curtis Sliwa and other candidates in the November 2, 2021 general election.
Tracey Collins is an American educator and author who is the de facto first lady of New York City as the domestic partner of New York City Mayor Eric Adams.
Emma Wolfe is an American government official and advisor who served as Deputy Mayor of New York City for Administration and Chief of Staff to New York City mayor Bill de Blasio.
Edward A. Caban is an American police officer and New York City Police Commissioner appointed in 2023 by Mayor Eric Adams. Caban previously served as First Deputy Police Commissioner under Keechant Sewell.
The mayoralty of Eric Adams began when Eric Adams was inaugurated shortly after midnight on January 1, 2022.
The 2025 New York City mayoral election will be held on November 4, 2025. Incumbent mayor Eric Adams is eligible to run for re-election to a second term.
Frank Carone is an American political figure and lawyer. Known for serving as Chief of Staff for New York Mayor Eric Adams in 2022, he has also served as lead counsel to the Brooklyn Democratic Party. He was involved in political campaigns such as Adams' successful bid for Brooklyn borough president in 2013, and also supported Adams' 2021 bid for New York Mayor as his lawyer, fundraiser, and adviser.
