The federal criminal investigation into New York City Democrat Mayor Eric Adams’ ties to the Turkish government — specifically whether he conspired with them to funnel illegal foreign donations to his campaign — has reportedly widened to include five more countries.
The New York Times reported that prosecutors subpoenaed City Hall, Adams, and his campaign two months ago for information related to China, Qatar, Uzbekistan, South Korea, and Israel.
It was not clear how expansive the scope of the investigation was, the report said, adding that it was not yet known what information they were looking for.
Adams is under criminal investigation over potential corruption stemming from actions involving the Turkish government. Prosecutors are looking to see if he received illegal campaign donations in exchange for pushing through building inspections on a Turkish consulate in NYC and whether he also received free flight upgrades.
Adams has seen numerous people in his orbit come under criminal investigation over the last year.
The FBI executed search warrants earlier this month at the home of Deputy Mayor for Public Safety Philip Banks and a home shared by First Deputy Mayor Sheena Wright and Schools Chancellor David Banks. Investigators seized phones belonging to then-NYPD Commissioner Edward Caban and Timothy Pearson, a senior adviser to the mayor. A consultant, Terence Banks, brother of Philip Banks and David Banks, was also searched.
The feds raided the home of Adams’ director of Asian Affairs, Winnie Greco, earlier this year as part of a criminal probe run by the Eastern District of New York, the Times said. His former buildings commissioner, Eric Ulrich, faces bribery charges, and several donors to Adams’ campaign have been charged in a straw-donor scheme.
Caban resigned from his post last week and his successor, interim Commissioner Thomas Donlon, was raided by the FBI late last week.
