Federal officials are investigating New York City Mayor Eric Adams (D) over allegations that he pressured New York Fire Department officials on behalf of the Turkish government, according to a new report.
According to sources familiar with the case, then-candidate Adams was asked by Turkish officials in September 2021 for help keeping the opening of the Turkevi Center, the 35-story home of the Turkish Consulate on the East Side, on schedule, the New York Times reported. Adams, at that point, had won the Democratic primary but was not elected mayor.
FBI HEADQUARTERS FEUD INTENSIFIES AFTER WRAY RAISES 'CONFLICT OF INTEREST' CONCERN
The building was awaiting a temporary certificate of occupancy from the fire department ahead of its scheduled opening later that month. Despite numerous flaws in its fire safety system, according to people familiar with the matter, intervention by the mayor-elect allowed Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan to preside over the opening of the $300 million tower. The incident is being investigated as part of a larger public corruption investigation by the F.B.I. and federal prosecutors in Manhattan.
The Times obtained a search warrant for an FBI search conducted this month of the home of the mayor's chief fund-raiser. The warrant reportedly notes the focus of the case is whether Adam's 2021 campaign conspired with the Turkish government and its consulate general in New York to send foreign money into its coffers illegally.
City Hall Chief Counsel Lisa Zornberg told the Washington Examiner on Sunday, "The mayor and our team are continuing to work with investigators and cooperate," after Adams confirmed on Friday the FBI seized two electronic devices from him following a campaign event last Monday night. The seizure was part of an apparent attempt to retrieve September 2021 text messages that allegedly show correspondence with Turkish officials.
"We hope that investigators will continue to cooperate with us and reprimand any federal officer who has improperly leaked details about this investigation as such conduct could prejudice the public and undermines the integrity of our law enforcement process," Zornberg said.
CLICK HERE TO READ MORE FROM THE WASHINGTON EXAMINER
Adams' campaign issued a statement Saturday that likened the matter to constituent services. “As a borough president, part of my routine role was to notify government agencies of issues on behalf of constituents and constituencies,” Adams said. “I have not been accused of wrongdoing, and I will continue to cooperate with investigators.”
The Washington Examiner contacted the Adams campaign and the FBI for comment.