A City Hall aide who was suspended for inappropriate conduct is cooperating with federal authorities during an FBI investigation into Mayor Eric Adams’ campaign fundraising, sources confirmed to the Post.
The Adams staffer who rebelled against her boss has been identified by sources as Lana Abbasova, whose home was searched by the FBI as part of a federal corruption investigation into the mayor’s 2021 campaign.
After Abbasova’s New Jersey home was raided in November 2023, sources say she encouraged her fellow City Hall employees to delete messages, leading to her suspension.
The “inappropriate” behavior was reported to federal authorities, who placed her on administrative leave.
Federal agents then obtained a court warrant to recover Adams’ mobile device to determine whether he was also receiving messages from Abbasova.
Sources said the mayor didn’t get the message.
It is unclear when Abbasova, the director of protocol at the Office of International Affairs, began cooperating with the FBI or what information she shared.
The FBI is investigating whether Mr. Adams’ team colluded with the Turkish government to fuel his campaign with foreign donations, and whether Mr. Adams told the FDNY that the new Turkish consulate had failed previous security inspections. An investigation is currently underway to determine whether he urged the authorities to hurry up on the approval.
Neither Adams, Abbasova nor members of his campaign have been accused of wrongdoing.
Mr. Abbasova’s salary is listed at $80,651, and part of his role included advanced planning and coordination of mayoral events, officials said.
The Azerbaijani native also worked for Adams when he was Brooklyn borough president, serving as Adams’ liaison with the Turkish community.
City Hall declined to comment, referring to the question regarding the mayor’s 2021 campaign.
Brendan McGuire, Adam’s former chief advisor at City Hall and now representing him in the FBI investigation, said: told the New York Times He said Abasova’s cooperation was “neither a new nor a meaningful development.”
In a statement, he noted that the Adams administration had reported her inappropriate conduct after a search of her home, adding: “Since Ms. Abbasova’s inappropriate conduct was reported by the government in November, she has been brought to the attention of law enforcement authorities. We understand that we are in discussions with them.”
