FBI seizes New York Mayor Eric Adams’ phone ahead of expected indictment unsealing

NEW YORK (AP) — FBI agents raided the official residence of New York Mayor Eric Adams and confiscated his phone early Thursday morning, hours before an indictment containing criminal charges against the Democrat was expected to be made public.

Adams was accused by a grand jury on federal criminal charges that remain sealed, in response to two people aware of the matter who spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because they weren’t authorized to debate the matter publicly.

Federal law enforcement officers were spotted entering the mayor’s Manhattan residence at dawn on Wednesday. Several vehicles with federal law enforcement banners were parked outside the residence.

“Federal agents showed up at Gracie Mansion this morning to create a spectacle (again) and take Mayor Adams’ phone (again). He has not been arrested and is eagerly awaiting his day in court,” Adams’ attorney, Alex Spiro, said in an announcement. “They are sending a dozen agents to retrieve the phone when we would gladly give it to him.”

The U.S. attorney’s office in Manhattan declined to comment on the investigation. Adams’ attorney and the mayor’s spokesman didn’t immediately reply to questions Thursday morning.

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In a videotaped speech released Wednesday evening, Adams vowed to fight all charges against him, saying he had been “targeted” in a case “built on lies.”

“I will fight these injustices with all my strength and spirit,” he said.

It was not initially clear what laws Adams was accused of breaking or when he would must appear in court.

The indictment ends a rare few weeks in New York, where federal investigators zeroed in on those closest to Adams, prompting a flurry of raids, subpoenas and high-profile resignations.

Federal prosecutors are believed to be pursuing multiple separate investigations into Adams and his senior associates, relatives of those associates, campaign fundraising and possible influence peddling throughout the police and fire departments.

In the past two weeks alone, town’s police commissioner and the varsity system’s superintendent have announced their resignations.

FBI agents seized Adams’ electronic devices nearly a yr ago as part of an investigation focused, no less than partly, on Adams’ campaign contributions and interactions with the Turkish government. Because the fees were sealed, it was unclear whether or not they were the identical.

On September 5, federal investigators seized devices belonging to the police commissioner, the faculties chancellor, two deputy mayors and other trusted figures each inside and outdoors City Hall.

They all denied any irregularities.