Mayor Eric Adams and his whole team are in the hot seat now in connection to an ongoing federal probe into allegations that they were involved in some financial corruption that was both international and illegal.
Nine months ago, the FBI announced an investigation into a claim that the Manhattan mayor solicited illegal foreign donations from Turkey government officials to fund his 2021 election campaign. The announcement wasn’t so subtle either, since the Feds busted in the Brooklyn home of his chief fundraiser to conduct a raid, per The New York Times.
Also connected to those allegations was the suspicion that a Brooklyn construction company was woven into the mess because Adams allegedly pressed the city Fire Department to authorize a new high-rise building for none other than Turkey officials.
As if the perceived relationship between Adams and Turkey wasn’t clear enough, the Feds also looked into various flight upgrades Adams received from Turkish Airlines. Investigators have now taken another step forward in their probe to place Adams, city hall and his election committee under subpoena, sources tell The Times and ABC News.
Adams confirmed receiving the subpoenas in an interview with WABC’s Bill Ritter saying, “Like previous administrations that have gone through subpoenas, you participate and cooperate. You see the subpoena, and you respond. At the end of the day, it will show there is no criminality here.”
Adams’ position has been ten toes down on denying any wrongdoing. Though, these allegations don’t help his chances of winning the 2025 election among other scandals like endorsing the flow of undocumented immigrants into the already overpopulated city and answering the concern of public safety with flooding more police in the subways and streets. According to the Manhattan Institute’s April 2024 poll, only 16 percent of city voters are likely to vote him back in.
A spokesperson tells ABC News he’ll be cooperating with the investigation as he has for the past months.
“He expects everyone to cooperate to swiftly bring this investigation to a close,” Fabien Levy, the deputy mayor for communications, said in a statement to ABC News.