Photos: YouTube Screenshots
New York City Mayor Eric Adams may have just flushed his already diminishing chances of being reelected in 2025 down the toilet.
The New York political world is now buzzing with the breaking news that Adams had his electronic devices snatched from him last week by the FBI. This followed reports that Adams’ top fundraiser, Brianna Suggs, had her home raided by the FBI. The allegation here is: that illegal campaign donations and an influence peddling scheme was at work presumably between the Adams campaign and foreign actors, namely the government of Turkey.
That news—and Adams’ suspicious actions, after the raid on Suggs’ home—will likely portend, at the very least, serious political trouble ahead. The legal outcome is entirely another matter.
Adams’ campaign attorney and spokesperson, Boyd Johnson, told CNN the mayor “immediately complied with the FBI’s request and provided them with electronic devices…After learning of the federal investigation, it was discovered that an individual had recently acted improperly. In the spirit of transparency and cooperation, this behavior was immediately and proactively reported to investigators.”
Is this “individual” that recently “acted improperly Suggs?” Or is it someone else?
Johnson also stated that, “The mayor has not been accused of any wrongdoing.”
True. But, by the mayor’s own head-scratching behavior he seems to be accusing himself of some wrongdoing.
As New Yorkers know, Adams has been virulently attacking the Biden House to address the Republican-orchestrated influx of migrants into New York. In fact, because of Adams’ bullish behavior, the Biden White House removed him from their National Advisory Board. And during a recent trip to New York, President Biden snubbed Adams by not meeting with him, while visiting, and praising, Governor Kathy Hochul.
Long gone are the days of Adams calling himself “Brooklyn Biden.”
However, things seemed to have settled some and Adams was recently scheduled to have a meeting at the White House on the migrant influx issue. In fact, Adams was in D.C. to take part in that meeting when news broke about the FBI raid on Suggs’ home.
Following this is where Adams’ own behavior makes him look guilty of something.
On hearing the news, Adams abruptly scrambled back to New York—without meeting with Biden. Adams’ decision must be seriously scrutinized. Many questions arise here.
What was the worrying urgency to return to New York? To do what exactly? Why did this news take precedence over meeting with the Biden White House to discuss what Adams said was a crisis that would “destroy New York City?”
Adams’ claim that he aborted the meeting on the migrant issue because “I was concerned about a young 25-year-old staffer that went through a traumatic experience” just doesn’t cut it. Why couldn’t he wait especially since he said, “I did not speak with Brianna on that day because I didn’t want to give any appearance of interference.” Then why go back that day and miss the migrant meeting with Biden?
The political optics here are all very bad. Didn’t any advisor caution him against doing this? Adams seems to have panicked here. New York must now wonder why?
The FBI seizure of Adams’ phones and electronic devices is obviously a very serious matter. Did Adams’ actions—including leaving D.C. so hurriedly—influence the FBI decision to obtain a search warrant against him last week? Probably.
The basis for this new scandal, regarding the Turkish government, are allegations and inferences that Adams was involved in pocketing money in exchange for political favors. We must keep in mind there are other similar pay-for-play allegations regarding Adams.
Back in July, six people were indicted by Manhattan DA Alvin Bragg’s office, in a 27-count indictment, for allegedly engaging in fundraising malfeasance during Mayor Adams’ 2021 campaign. The primary person indicted then was Dwayne Montgomery, a former cop (shown below) who spent 30 years in the NYPD. Montgomery is reportedly a “longtime acquaintance” of Adams.
Numerous questions arise here. Including, did information from the Manhattan DA’s Office’s 27-count indictment, in some way, lead to what transpired with the FBI raid on Suggs’ home and the FBI’s snatching of Adams’ electronic devices? That seems more than likely.
Does any of this prove that Mayor Adams is guilty of something legally? No.
However, Mayor Adams, whether he realizes it or not, has done major damage to himself by acting as a guilty person.
Unfortunately, New Yorkers must now ask two important questions. First, will the Adams Administration survive re-election in 2025? But even before that question is mulled, we must wonder this: will legal troubles ultimately remove Mayor Adams from office before 2025?
