An FBI investigation raises questions about Eric Adams
“SOMETHING’S ALWAYS going to be going on in the city and you have to be focused, no distractions and grind,” said Eric Adams, New York City’s mayor, recently. That is no easy task at the best of times. It is especially hard to do while dodging questions about an alleged FBI investigation.
The probe is reportedly looking into questionable donations made to Mr Adams’s 2021 mayoral campaign, including possible illegal foreign donations from people with ties to Turkey. During a press briefing on November 14th Mr Adams said: “We don’t do quid pro quo. We follow the law.” He is not accused of any wrongdoing.
New Yorkers first got wind that something was up on November 2nd, when FBI agents searched the home of Mr Adams’s top fund-raiser. That morning the mayor had landed in Washington, DC, to meet lawmakers and White House officials to discuss his city’s migrant crisis. For more than a year Mr Adams has called on the federal government to help the city cope with 130,000 refugees. Mr Adams abruptly cancelled his meetings and returned to New York. Then on November 10th the New York Times revealed that the FBI had seized Mr Adams’s mobile devices. The FBI is also said to be looking into whether Mr Adams pressed the fire department to fast-track the opening of the new Turkish consulate, despite some unresolved safety issues. Mr Adams pooh-poohed any impropriety.
2023-11-16 09:48:08
Original from www.economist.com
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