FBI seizes New York City mayor’s phone ahead of expected unsealing of indictment
FBI agents have entered the official residence of New York City mayor Eric Adams and seized his phone, hours before an indictment detailing criminal charges against the Democrat was expected to be made public.
Mr Adams was indicted by a grand jury on federal criminal charges that remain sealed, according to two people familiar with the matter.
“Federal agents appeared this morning at Gracie Mansion in an effort to create a spectacle (again) and take Mayor Adams’ phone (again),” Mr Adams’ lawyer Alex Spiro said in a statement, adding that the mayor had not been arrested.
“They send a dozen agents to pick up a phone when we would have happily turned it in.”
Federal law enforcement agents were seen entering the mayor’s Manhattan residence at dawn on Thursday, with several vehicles bearing federal law enforcement placards parked outside.
The US attorney’s office in Manhattan has declined to comment on the investigation.
An FBI spokesperson declined to comment.
A spokesperson for the mayor did not immediately respond to questions on Thursday morning.
In a video speech released on Wednesday night, Mr Adams vowed to fight any charges against him, claiming he had been made a “target” in a case “based on lies”.
“I will fight these injustices with every ounce of my strength and my spirit,” he said.
It was not immediately clear what laws Mr Adams is accused of breaking or when he might have to appear in court.
The indictment caps off an extraordinary few weeks in New York City, as federal investigators have honed in on members of Mr Adams’ inner circle, producing a drum-beat of raids, subpoenas and high-level resignations.
Federal prosecutors are believed to be leading multiple, separate inquiries involving Mr Adams and his senior aides, relatives of those aides, campaign fundraising and possible influence peddling of the police and fire departments.
In the last two weeks alone, the city’s police commissioner and head of the school’s system have announced their resignations.
FBI agents had seized Mr Adams’ electronic devices nearly a year ago as part of an investigation focused, at least partly, on campaign contributions and Mr Adams’ interactions with the Turkish government.
Because the charges were sealed, it was unknown whether they dealt with those same matters.
In early September, federal investigators seized devices from his police commissioner, schools chancellor, two deputy mayors and other trusted confidantes both in and out of City Hall.
All have denied wrongdoing.
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