FBI seizes electronic devices from New York City mayor, report says

NEW YORK — The FBI seized several electronic devices from New York City Mayor Eric Adams this week — a major escalation in a growing public corruption investigation that appears to be centered around his 2021 campaign.

Agents stopped Adams on the street Monday evening, climbed into his city-issued vehicle and took at least two cellphones and an iPad, according to a report by The New York Times. The investigators kept the devices for several days before returning them.

Neither Adams nor any of his staff have been accused of any wrongdoing. But the seizure of his electronic devices comes on the heels of a Nov. 2 FBI raid at the home of his campaign treasurer, 25-year-old Brianna Suggs.

A search warrant obtained by the Times indicated that agents were looking for evidence in Suggs' home that the campaign colluded with the Turkish government and accepted illicit contributions from Turkish citizens.

A statement Friday from Adams and his attorney, Boyd Johnson, suggested that someone else had garnered the attention of federal authorities.

“After learning of the federal investigation, it was discovered that an individual had recently acted improperly," Adams and Johnson said. "In the spirit of transparency and cooperation, this behavior was immediately and proactively reported to investigators. The Mayor has been and remains committed to cooperating in this matter."

At the time of the raid last week, Adams was in Washington, D.C., to attend high-level meetings with federal officials — including those at the White House — over the migrant crisis. However, the mayor turned around before his first sitdown and rushed back to New York.

At a press briefing Wednesday, more than a day after his devices were taken, Adams praised Suggs and defended his campaign.

“I sleep well at night. I am clear that we follow the rules. We follow the rules,” the mayor said. “And I am angry if there are those in any way attempt to do anything that will go against our process of how we collect campaign dollars or the procedures that are in our city.