The FBI seized cell phones used by New York City Mayor Eric Adams as part of a federal corruption probe into his campaign.
The seizure relates to an investigation into whether the New York Democrat’s campaign accepted illicit donations from the Turkish government.
The agency executed a search warrant on Nov. 2 at the home of Susanna Suggs, a 25-year-old former intern and fundraiser for Mr. Adams’ 2021 mayoral campaign.
There, bureau personnel seized records, documents and electronic communications devices to establish whether the campaign had solicited or knowingly accepted donations from Turkey through different U.S. entities, according to The New York Times, which first reported the seizure of Mr. Adams’ phones Friday.
Mr. Adams’ devices taken by the FBI include two cell phones, an Apple iPad, two personal computers and three Apple iPhones as well as a folder with the label “Eric Adams” from Ms. Suggs’ home.
Mr. Adams released a statement at the time of the raid saying that he would be angry if “anyone attempted to use the campaign to manipulate our democracy and defraud our campaign.”
“I want to be clear, I have no knowledge, direct or otherwise, of any improper fundraising activity — and certainly not of any foreign money,” the mayor said. “We will of course work with officials to respond to inquiries, as appropriate — as we always have.”
Ms. Suggs was not arrested but received a subpoena to testify before a grand jury that convened to investigate the Adams campaign.
The day of the raid, Mr. Adams was in Washington to meet with White House officials and congressional leaders about the migrant crisis in New York City. The raid forced Mr. Adams to abruptly cancel meetings and return home.
FBI agents approached the New York mayor while he was in public and gave him a court-ordered warrant for his devices, which they returned several days later after copying the data.
Four people were charged in July in a scheme to raise money through straw donations for the Adams campaign.
The defendants planned to urge the mayor’s office for construction jobs.
Mr. Adams was not charged and a campaign spokesman said at the time, “We would never tolerate these actions.”
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