FBI agents searched the homes of the New York City police commissioner and at least three senior aides to Mayor Eric Adams (Democrat), multiple media outlets reported Thursday.
The FBI seized electronic devices Wednesday from the homes of First Deputy Mayor Sheena Wright, Deputy Mayor for Public Safety Philip Banks and Timothy Pearson, a mayoral adviser and former NYPD officer. He told the Associated Press On condition of anonymity.
The Associated Press, citing one of the people who spoke on condition of anonymity, reported that equipment from New York City Police Commissioner Edward Cabana, a veteran of the NYPD who was appointed commissioner by Adams last summer, was also seized.
City Hall chief counsel Lisa Zornberg told The Hill that investigators “have not indicated that the mayor or his staff are the targets of the investigation.”
“As a former member of law enforcement, the Mayor has repeatedly made it clear that everyone on his team must follow the law,” Zonberg wrote.
Adams denied any wrongdoing, but He told Fox 5 New York TV “Throughout my career in public office, I have sent a clear message that I will follow the law,” he said Thursday.
Fox 5 New York reported that he said he would “comply with any investigation and whatever submissions he has to make.”
The Hill has reached out to the NYPD and the FBI for further comment.
The New York Police Department said in a statement to The Associated Press that it is aware of the investigation and is cooperating, but did not provide details about it.
The search came after the FBI searched Adams' home in February as part of an investigation conducted by the U.S. Attorney's Office in Brooklyn.
His associates' homes were searched as part of the investigation several months ago.Federal corruption investigation The case centers on the mayor's 2021 election campaign, where he allegedly colluded with the Turkish government to accept illegal foreign donations.
Federal agents seized Adams' phone and iPad after he left an event in Manhattan in November, and Adams, his campaign and City Hall subsequently received federal subpoenas earlier this summer.
A source familiar with the matter told The Hill that this week's raids do not appear to be related to the Turkey investigation.
But this week's raid is the latest in a string of federal investigations into the inner circle of Adams, who became mayor in 2022 after serving as Brooklyn borough president and state senator.
Pearson, who was searched in the recent raids, faces multiple sexual harassment lawsuits and a separate investigation into his role in a brawl at a shelter for homeless immigrants, according to the Associated Press. His lawyer did not immediately respond to AP's request for comment.
Wright, the first deputy mayor, lives with his partner, David Banks, the city's superintendent of schools and brother of Philip and Terrence Banks, whose homes were searched this week, according to the Associated Press. A lawyer for Mr. Banks told the AP that Mr. Banks' lawyer told the AP that Mr. Banks and Terrence, a consultant, both had their homes searched this week.
News outlet The City First reported Searches of the homes of Mr Wright and Mr Philip Banks.
The Associated Press contributed.
