Watch Live News Weather Good Day Inside FOX 5 Contests More

Mayor Eric Adams cancels

another event, as FBI probes
campaign donations
By Adeja Shivonne Jake Offenhartz and Michael Balsamo
, Published November 3, 2023 1:03PM Updated 10:20PM Eric Adams Associated Press

Trending Now
2nd Avenue subway
Harlem extension due to
open in 2032: What to
know

Brooklyn subway
platform attack leaves
man with brain bleed

Uber, Lyft to pay $328M

in New York wage theft
settlement

What roads are closed

due to the NYC Marathon
FBI raids home of Adams' fundraiser this weekend?
New York City Mayor Eric Adams has denied any involvement in illegal political fundraising, but his campaign
pledged to review its books and the actions of its workers after federal agents raided the home of one of his chief 2023 NYC elections: What
fundraisers. The New York Times says it obtained a search warrant indicating authorities were examining whether New Yorkers should
the Democrat's campaign conspired with the Turkish government to receive banned donations from foreigners. know

NEW YORK - Questions are rapidly mounting for Mayor Eric Adams.

Federal investigators are said to be looking into whether the mayor's DAILY NEWSLETTER
campaign received illegal foreign donations.
All the news you need to know, every day

"Iam outraged and angry if

anyone attempted to use the
campaign to manipulate our
democracy and defraud our By clicking Sign Up, I confirm
campaign." that have read and agree
I

to the Privacy Policy

— Mayor Eric Adams and Terms of Service .

Adams canceled yet another event Friday, a day after abruptly ditching a
planned White House meeting in Washington on Thursday. Latest News View More
Tyson recalls nearly 30,000
lbs.of dinosaur-shaped
According to the search warrant, the FBI is investigating whether the Adams nuggets
2021 mayoral campaign conspired with a Brooklyn based construction
company to funnel foreign money into the campaign. 79-year-old woman fatally
struck by two different hit-
and-run drivers in Brooklyn
In a statement obtained by Fox 5 NY's Morgan McKay Mayor Eric Adams
said, "I am outraged and angry if anyone attempted to use the campaign to
US cities reconsider allowing
manipulate our democracy and defraud our campaign. I want to be clear, I drivers to turn right at red
lights citing rising pedestrian
have no knowledge, direct or otherwise, of any improper fundraising deaths
activity—and certainly not of any foreign money. We will of course work
with officials to respond to inquiries, as appropriate—as we always have." Woman who married into
Boston crime family revealed
as Florida canal murder
victim after vanishing:
Allegedly, investigators are looking to see if foreign nationals used Turkish daughter
Americans to donate on their behalf (straw donor scheme), which would be
illegal. Lucky slots player at
Excalibur Las Vegas takes
home $12.1 million fortune

"Mayor Adams has not been

contacted as part of this inquiry.
He has always held the campaign
to the highest standards,"
— Vito Pitta, Adams' 2021 campaign counsel, told <strong>FOX 5 NY.
</strong>

This also comes after federal agents raided the home of a top fundraiser
and longtime confidante to Adams, Brianna Suggs.

"Mayor Adams has not been contacted as part of this inquiry. He has always
held the campaign to the highest standards," Vito Pitta, Adams' 2021
campaign counsel, told FOX 5 NY.

A spokesperson for the FBI confirmed that a court-authorized law

enforcement action had been carried out at the address, but declined to
comment further.

Vito Pitta, an attorney for the Adams campaign, said "Immediately upon
learning about the federal inquiry, the campaign started an extensive
review of all documents and actions by campaign workers connected to the
contributors in question."

I want to be clear, I have no

knowledge, direct or otherwise, of
any improper fundraising activity—
a nd certainly not of any foreign
money.
— Mayor Eric Adams

Suggs, who did not respond to a request for comment, is a campaign

consultant to Adams who raised money for his election effort and also
lobbied his administration on behalf of a real estate client.Suggs, 25, has
worked for Adams since 2017, when she joined his staff in the Brooklyn
Borough president’s office as a teenager, reporting directly to her
godmother, Ingrid Lewis-Martin, a longtime Adams ally who now serves as
the mayor’s chief advisor.

NEW YORK, NEW YORK - NOVEMBER 02: New York City Mayor-elect Eric Adams smiles as he
speaks during his election night party at the New York Marriott at the Brooklyn Bridge on
November 02, 2021 in the Brooklyn borough of New York City. Democratic candi
Expand

When Adams, a Democrat, ran for mayor in 2021, Suggs served as a chief
fundraiser and director of logistics, helping to organize events and solicit
money from donors. Records show she has been paid more than $150,000
for her work on his previous campaign and his current reelection bid.

While collecting paychecks from the campaign in 2021, Suggs

simultaneously started her own lobbying firm, Brianna Suggs & Associates
Inc. Lobbying records list only one client, a real estate group seeking to take
over a city-owned mall in Manhattan’s Chinatown.

Good government groups have previously cast scrutiny on her role as a

mayoral fundraiser and a lobbyist for real estate clients with interests
before the city.

At the time, a spokesperson for Suggs, Jordan Barowitz, defended her dual
roles, which some campaign finance experts said did not violate any city
laws.

Barowitz did not respond to a request for comment Thursday.

NEW YORK, NEW YORK - NOVEMBER 02: New York City Mayor-elect Eric Adams waves to
supporters as he takes the stage during his election night party at the New York Marriott at the
Brooklyn Bridge on November 02, 2021 in the Brooklyn borough of New York
Expand

Suggs is the latest Adams associate — and one of several people involved in
his fundraising activity — to face legal trouble in recent months. In July, six
people were charged in a straw donor conspiracy scheme to divert tens of
thousands of dollars to Adams’ campaign.

The New York Times says it obtained a copy of the search warrant - the
paper says it shows the FBI appears to be looking into whether the Adams
campaign conspired with the Turkish government and a Brooklyn
construction company to funnel money into the Mayor's campaign coffers.

In July, six people were charged in an alleged scheme to divert tens of

thousands of dollars in public funds to Adams’ campaign months before his
election.

Adams has distanced himself from both cases, which were brought in state
court and did not directly implicate his campaign or administration.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

News Weather Good Day New York About Us Money Only on FOX 5
Local NYC News Forecast Good Day Cafe How To Stream Consumer Street Soldiers
New York State News Closings Good Day Street Talk Meet The Team Recalls The Tape Room
National News Weather Alerts Health FOX 5 TV Schedule Business Lew's View
Politics Traffic Things to Do FOX Shows The Economy FOX 5 Flashback
Crime & Public Safety Travel News Watch Live Get Our Apps Personal Finance SkyFOX Videos
Entertainment FOX 5 NY Weather App Job Opportunities Real Estate
Unusual FOX Weather Public Affairs
Science Contact Us
Sports Contests
Seen on TV FCC Public File
FOX News Sunday FCC Applications
Newsletters It's 10 p.m.
Watch Live

Regional News
New Jersey News - My9NJ
Philadelphia News - FOX 29
Philadelphia
Washington DC News - FOX
5 DC

New Privacy Policy Terms of Service Your Privacy Choices FCC Public File EEO Public File About Us Jobs at FOX 5 Contact Us
This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. ©2023 FOX Television Stations