NYC Mayor Eric Adams charged in federal corruption investigation into administration

NEW YORK (WABC) — New York Mayor Eric Adams has been indicted by a federal grand jury, according to sources familiar with the matter. The exact charges have not yet been disclosed.

The police officer turned politician and members of his inner circle were the target of federal investigations for nearly a year.

His cell phones were seized, and in recent weeks the homes of some of his closest associates were searched by federal agents working on several related corruption investigations.

The mayor accepted the resignation of Edward Caban, his hand-picked police commissioner, two weeks ago after authorities issued a subpoena for his cell phones.

The mayor's chief counsel, Lisa Zornberg, resigned. This week, schools chancellor David Banks announced he would retire at the end of the year. Banks also turned over his phone to federal authorities.

The cellphones of Banks' younger brothers Philip, the deputy mayor for public safety, and Terence were also seized. The cellphone of David Banks' fiancée, Sheena Wright, the first deputy mayor, was also seized.

RELATED TOPICS | Adams responds to AOC's call for resignation: “I will stay and fight”

Adams has stated that as a former police officer, he has always followed the rules. He also said he is not aware of any “misconduct” within his administration.

The FBI seized Adams' electronic devices as part of an investigation into whether his 2021 mayoral campaign raised funds. Other investigations focused on city contracts and enforcement of regulations governing bars and clubs.

Adams was only the second African American to lead the nation's largest city and was hailed as the forerunner of a new generation of Democratic leaders who could both support law enforcement and chart a progressive course in the wake of a pandemic that rocked the city.

Under his leadership, the city has seen a remarkable decline in violent crime after a spike in the Covid era, a time when business leaders and residents complained that New York was heading backwards to the bad old 1980s.

This is breaking news. This story will be updated as more information becomes available.

———-

* Get Eyewitness News

* More news from New York City

* Send us a news tip

* Download the abc7NY app for breaking news

* Follow us on YouTube

Send a tip or story idea to Eyewitness News

Have a breaking news tip or story idea we should cover? Send it to Eyewitness News using the form below. When attaching a video or photo, terms of use apply.