An aide to New York Mayor Eric Adams accused of “inappropriate” behavior “urged staff to delete text messages after the FBI raided her home,” a source claims.
Director of Protocol for International Affairs Rana Abbasova was suspended from her post after the mayor’s lawyers discovered she had tried to delete the messages. New York Post reported.
Abbasova was put on leave from her $80,651-a-year role after she was found to have “acted inappropriately” following an internal investigation.
Her alleged misconduct is believed to be related to an FBI investigation into whether Adams’ campaign colluded with a Brooklyn construction company and the Turkish government to funnel foreign money into the campaign’s coffers.
Authorities investigating the case obtained a court order to search the mayor’s mobile devices to determine whether he had also received messages from Abbasova. But he received no message, the source told the New York Post.
Rana Abbasova, protocol director at Eric Adams’ Office of International Affairs, reportedly urged City Hall staff to delete text messages after her home was raided by the FBI.
The FBI raided Abbasova’s New Jersey home, apparently in connection with an FBI investigation into whether New York Mayor Eric Adams’ campaign conspired with a Brooklyn construction company and the Turkish government to invest foreign money to channel the campaign’s coffers
“It was immediately reported to investigators,” the source added, before it became clear that the communication between Adams and Abbasova was “benign.”
Sources previously alleged that Abbasova lied to federal investigators, the Post reported.
Her biography on the town hall page describes her role as fostering “closer relationships between the City of New York and the broader diplomatic community.”
She also ‘manages contacts with foreign dignitaries’.
But a source claimed that earlier this year she took on a new role in the mayor’s event planning unit, working as a “body person” traveling with the mayor.
They said: ‘Rana was a quiet, modest person’.
In her previous role as community coordinator, when Adams served as Brooklyn Borough President, “she was responsible for international relations and fostering relationships between the Borough President and stakeholders, including countries in the Middle East and Central Asia.
The source reports that the FBI was investigating whether Adams received messages from Abbasova
Abbasova’s suspension came after police raided the Brooklyn home of Brianna Suggs (seen above), Adams’ top fundraiser, amid an investigation into an alleged kickback scheme with ties to the Turkish government.
“She also worked with embassies and consulates to build relationships between countries and with the Office of the Brooklyn Borough President to help overcome language barriers and cultural differences. She also organized Turkish heritage events and helped with sister city agreements.”
At the same time that Abbasova’s New Jersey home was raided, authorities raided another home belonging to someone associated with the mayor.
Cenk Öcal, a former Turkish Airlines executive who was part of his transition team, was also subjected to a search. New York Times reports.
The raids came after the FBI seized Adams’ electronic devices two weeks ago – after he raided the Brooklyn home of his top fundraiser and longtime confidante Brianna Suggs, 25, as part of an investigation into an alleged kickback scheme.
Prosecutors are investigating whether Adams expedited a Turkish consulate in Brooklyn in exchange for donations.
His devices were returned to the mayor within a few days. The FBI can make copies of data from seized devices if they have a search warrant.
Adams has since demanded that the federal agency stop leaks from the investigation after CBS reported that the FBI was investigating a 2021 text message sent to the mayor.
The texts showed that the Turkish consul general asked about the opening of the new consul building on First Avenue, opposite the United Nations.
Adams, then Brooklyn borough president, did not respond to the message, but forwarded it to former fire chief Daniel Nigro.
The assistant was placed on leave from her $80,651-a-year role after she was found to have ‘acted inappropriately’ following an internal investigation
Eric Adams has not been accused of wrongdoing and has stood by Brianna Suggs by telling the media he ‘has nothing to hide’
After news of the seizure of his devices broke, the mayor told CNN “he has nothing to hide.”
He said: ‘As a former member of law enforcement, I expect all my employees to follow the law and cooperate fully with any investigation – and I will continue to do so.’
Suggs, Adams’ top fundraiser, had her home raided on November 2 while her boss was on his way to meetings in Washington, DC, which he had to abruptly cancel. The timing was deliberate, sources claimed.
The New York Times obtained part of the search warrant, which showed it was related to an investigation into Adams’ 2021 mayoral campaign.
Adams has supported Suggs and neither has yet been accused of wrongdoing. His attorney Boyd Johnson said he is cooperating with the federal investigation.
Last week he admitted that he helped gain approval for a Turkish consulate, but insisted that this was within the normal bounds of his work as a politician.