FBI agents seen entering NYC mayor’s residence ahead of expected unsealing of indictment
NEW YORK — FBI agents were seen entering the official residence of New York City Mayor Eric Adams early Thursday morning, hours before the indictment detailing criminal charges against the Democrat was expected to be made public.
Adams was accused by a grand jury on federal criminal charges that remain unsealed, according to two people familiar with the matter who spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to discuss the matter publicly.
Federal law enforcement officers were seen entering the mayor’s Manhattan residence Wednesday morning. Several vehicles with federal law enforcement signs were parked outside.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office in Manhattan declined to comment on the investigation. An attorney for Adams and a spokesman for the mayor did not immediately respond to questions Thursday morning.
In a video address released Wednesday night, Adams vowed to fight all charges against him, claiming he had been made a “target” in a case “based on lies.”
“I will fight these injustices with all my strength and spirit,” he said.
It is not yet clear what laws Adams is alleged to have violated or when he will appear in court.
The indictment is the final part of a extraordinary couple of weeks in New York City, where federal investigators increasingly targeted Adams’ inner circle, resulting in a series of raids, subpoenas and firings of high-ranking figures.
Federal prosecutors are believed to be conducting multiple, separate investigations into Adams and his senior associates, family members of those associates, campaign fundraising and possible influence peddling of police and fire departments.
In the past two weeks alone, the police chief and the school principal have announced their resignations.
FBI agents seized Adams’ electronic devices nearly a year ago as part of an investigation focused, at least in part, on campaign contributions and Adams’ interactions with the Turkish government. Because the indictments were sealed, it was unknown whether they related to the same cases.
On September 5, federal investigators seized equipment from his police chief, the schools chancellor, two deputy mayors and other confidants, both inside and outside City Hall.
They all deny that they did anything wrong.