Hmmmmm[NY Post] The FBI seized Mayor Eric Adams’ electronic devices early this week as part of a federal probe into his campaign fundraising, The Post has learned.
The feds seized the electronics — which included at least two cellphones and an iPad — in connection to an investigation into whether Hizzoner’s 2021 campaign colluded with the Turkish government and others to direct money into his mayoral effort, sources told The Post after the news was first reported by the New York Times.
Adams’ campaign attorney Boyd Johnson said the mayor was cooperating with federal authorities and had already reported that a review found "an individual had recently acted improperly."
"After learning of the federal investigation, it was discovered that an individual had recently acted improperly. In the spirit of transparency and cooperation, this behavior was immediately and proactively reported to investigators," Johnson said in a statement obtained by The Post.
"On Monday night, the FBI approached the mayor after an event. The Mayor immediately complied with the FBI’s request and provided them with electronic devices. The mayor has not been accused of any wrongdoing and continues to cooperate with the investigation."
The statement did not identify the individual or detail the improper behavior.
Adams himself added that "as a former member of law enforcement, I expect all members of my staff to follow the law and fully cooperate with any sort of investigation — and I will continue to do exactly that. I have nothing to hide."
The agents approached Adams, 63, on the street after an event at New York University on Monday and asked his security team to step aside, a source told The Times.
The agents then got into Adams’ SUV with him and executed a court-authorized warrant to seize his devices.
The electronics were returned to the mayor within a few days, the sources said.
Sources told The Post that the FBI had notified Adams before, who was cooperative and willing to hand over the devices. However, the mayor did not know they were going to approach him in the street Monday evening.
"The manner in which he had his phones taken away in public seems targeted against the mayor in response to his stance on the immigration crisis," another person with knowledge of the investigation told The Post.
Sources also told The Post that the mayor contacted investigators when he returned to Gracie Mansion and found more devices. He then coordinated with the FBI to turn over the additional electronics. It is unclear what these devices were.
It came a week after Adams had to abruptly and dramatically bail on a slate of White House immigration meetings to fly back to the Big Apple when FBI agents raided the home of his lead fundraiser Brianna Suggs — almost as soon as he had landed in Washington DC.
In the raid, agents seized two laptops, three cell phones and a folder labeled "Eric Adams."
He later said the quick change of plans was out of a desire to support his team, including Suggs — a 25-year-old former intern the mayor lamented had gone through a "traumatic experience," according to the New York Times.
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Eric Adams: 2023-11-05 Owner of Brooklyn construction business in Eric Adams FBI campaign probe bought $2.1M apartment, flashes trips to Japan and Greece
Eric Adams: 2023-11-05 National Suicide: Inside the Democrats' Plan to Allow Non-Citizens to Vote
Eric Adams: 2023-11-04 What the FBI seized from the home of New York City Mayor Eric Adams' top fundraiser