NEW YORK — Federal documents released on Friday reveal that investigators continued their efforts to probe potential corruption involving New York City Mayor Eric Adams, even as directives from the Justice Department called for dropping the case. These unsealed court records shed light on the circumstances surrounding the investigation and its implications, showing discrepancies between different branches of the Justice Department.
The investigation into Adams, which started in August 2021 while he was the Brooklyn borough president, involved allegations of receiving improper campaign contributions. It came into the public eye in November 2023 when the FBI confiscated Adams’ phones and iPad during an event in Manhattan. Fast-forward 10 months, Adams was facing charges relating to accepting illegal campaign donations and free travel from individuals looking to benefit from his influence, including a Turkish diplomat.
However, in a controversial move just weeks after Donald Trump assumed the presidency, Justice Department leaders directed federal prosecutors in New York to drop the charges. The reasoning provided was that the charges were interfering with Adams’ ability to support the Republican administration’s immigration policies. This directive led to a shake-up within the federal prosecutors’ offices in both Manhattan and Washington, resulting in several resignations, including that of Danielle Sassoon, the top federal prosecutor in Manhattan. Eventually, a judge, citing legal obligation, had to dismiss the case upon request of senior Justice Department officials.
Despite the case being halted, documents show that prosecutors were actively pursuing further charges against Adams, including potential obstruction of justice claims. On February 7, a judge signed off on searching a phone linked to an unidentified subject involved in the investigation. Similarly, there were requests for warrants to search locations related to alleged straw donations to Adams’ campaign, and further seizures of digital data and physical locations, including a home in Middletown, New York, and another property in Queens.
Documents also uncovered that in May 2024, a magistrate approved a warrant to search the Fort Lee, New Jersey residence of Tracey Collins, Adams’ longtime partner. Federal agents aimed to examine several iPhones as part of their inquiry into whether an official connected to the Turkish consulate sought assistance in school admissions.
Further scrutiny involved a warrant application in September 2024 to search Gracie Mansion, Adams’ official residence in Manhattan. The documents included photos of the mansion and an FBI affidavit indicating that location data placed Adams’ phone there during several overnight stays.
In response to the unsealed documents, Adams’ attorney, Alex Spiro, criticized the initial prosecution, emphasizing that the case was dismissed and asserting that it should never have been pursued. Adams has publicly welcomed the case’s dismissal, denying any quid pro quo with Trump despite the subsequent cordial relationship. The two met in Washington, with discussions reportedly centering on significant infrastructure projects and other municipal concerns.
As Adams navigates post-investigation, he faces political challenges. He has announced his decision to bypass the Democratic primary slated for June, opting instead to run as an independent in the upcoming November election.