Former NYPD interim chief Tom Donlon has asked the federal government to reconsider its approach, urging a renewed investigation into Mayor Eric Adams and several senior NYPD officials.
Donlon sent a criminal referral letter to the Justice Department on Tuesday, calling for Attorney General Pam Bondy to initiate an inquiry targeting Adams and eight of his associates.
He argues that this investigation is vital for “dismantling criminal conspiracies within the NYPD and restoring integrity to New York City’s law enforcement,” according to his attorney, John Scola.
This appeal for federal oversight occurs about six months after the DOJ, during the Trump administration, decided to abandon a corruption case against the mayor, previously managed by a Manhattan federal prosecutor.
A spokesperson from the DOJ mentioned that they had not yet received Donlon’s letter.
A spokesperson for the city hall responded, asserting that it was unfair to undermine the NYPD’s commendable efforts and endanger public safety for trivial gain.
Donlon’s letter references a former FBI official who claimed to be a whistleblower. This individual alleged that he faced retaliation when trying to bring attention to corruption allegations during a mission last year, which was highlighted in a surprising summer lawsuit.
In reaction to the lawsuit, Scola filed an internal complaint with the NYPD, noting that no law enforcement agency had reached out to him or his client concerning Donlon’s allegations.
City lawyers have dismissed Donlon’s brief period of leadership as “inappropriate,” labeling his claims as “personal grievances.” They described his governance as ineffective.
Scola argued that the failure to act indicates that internal affairs and the NYPD’s oversight mechanisms resemble protective shields for leadership rather than genuine investigative bodies, referring to the department as a “political machine, not a public safety agency.”
In the meantime, Donlon has criticized Adams, describing him as exhibiting “moral corruption” and opposing his re-election efforts.
