Weird how the DOJ & FBI have been cracking down on New York political corruption all of a sudden. Apparently someone or some group is not happy with NY swamp rats. Details are sketchy.
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FBI raids homes of top aides to New York City Mayor Eric Adams
Quote:NEW YORK — Federal authorities raided the homes of at least three of New York City Mayor Eric Adams’ most senior aides and closest friends, five people with knowledge of the situation told POLITICO.
The search Wednesday morning of the Manhattan home shared by Sheena Wright, the city’s first deputy mayor, and her romantic partner, Schools Chancellor David Banks, as well as the Queens home of the deputy mayor for public safety, Philip Banks, marks yet another federal inquiry into the mayor’s orbit.
Adams’ Chief Counsel Lisa Zornberg distanced administration officials from any potential wrongdoing Thursday.
“Investigators have not indicated to us the mayor or his staff are targets of any investigation,” she said in a statement. “As a former member of law enforcement, the mayor has repeatedly made clear that all members of the team need to follow the law.”
The mayor is a retired NYPD captain. David and Philip Banks are brothers.
A person who talked to Wright said she was confident she had done nothing wrong.
Two other people familiar with the matter said the latest searches do not appear to be related to the ongoing federal investigation into the government of Turkey trying to influence Adams. It also appears unrelated to a federal investigation into Adams’ special adviser and campaign fundraiser Winnie Greco, whose homes were raided in February.
The homes of at least three other Adams’ aides, including Greco, have been searched since last November as part of the Turkey probe. Adams himself was served a grand jury subpoena in July and had his electronic devices seized (and later returned) last November.
But Wright and the Banks brothers are the highest-ranking administration officials yet known to have their homes searched as part of the federal action.
David Banks declined to comment on the raid to reporters Thursday during an appearance in Queens for the first day of school.
“Today’s all about the kids,” he said.
Two of his next-door neighbors, who declined to give their names, said they didn’t hear or see anything Wednesday morning. Other neighbors on Wright and Banks’ block were similarly unaware anything had happened.
The investigation involving Turkish influence revolves at least in part around whether the mayor’s 2021 campaign colluded with foreign interests, including the Turkish government.
A spokesperson for the FBI declined comment. Adams is up for reelection in 2025, and his campaign also declined to comment.
Adams, a Democrat serving his first term as mayor, and his attorneys have said he is cooperating with the investigation and stressed he has not been accused of wrongdoing.
City Hall and his election committee were also subpoenaed in July, The New York Times reported last month.
Last November, federal officers raided and collected evidence from the homes of the mayor’s top campaign fundraiser, Brianna Suggs, and his international affairs aide, Rana Abbasova.
FBI raids homes of top aides to New York City Mayor Eric Adams
"It is hard to imagine a more stupid or more dangerous way of making decisions than by putting those decisions in the hands of people who pay no price for being wrong." – Thomas Sowell