- New York City Mayor Eric Adams was indicted by federal grand jury amid a corruption probe.
- His administration has been engulfed in turmoil for months.
- Below is a timeline of the notable events that led to the mayor’s unprecedented indictment.
New York City Mayor Eric Adams’ administration has been embroiled in turmoil for months.
That chaos exploded into an all-out crisis after it was revealed on September 25 that Adams became the first sitting mayor of New York City to be indicted by a federal grand jury while in office.
The former Brooklyn borough president and retired captain of the New York Police Department, who became the city’s second Black mayor after being elected to office in 2021, is at the center of a sprawling federal corruption probe.
He has been charged with five criminal counts, including wire fraud, bribery, and receiving illegal campaign contributions from foreign nationals, according to the unsealed indictment.
The sweeping indictment accuses Adams of soliciting bribes, such as luxury international travel, from wealthy foreign businesspeople, including at least one Turkish government official, who were seeking to gain influence over him.
Adams, a Democrat who is running for re-election, swiftly declared his innocence and ignored calls to resign following the news of his indictment. He is expected to be arraigned Friday, according to court records.
Here is a timeline of notable events that led to his historic indictment:
November 2, 2023: FBI raids home of Adams’ top fundraiser
The first public sign of trouble came last year when FBI agents raided the home of Adams’ fundraising chief, Brianna Suggs, on November 2, 2023. Suggs headed up efforts to raise money for Adams’ 2021 mayoral campaign.
Agents seized several items including three iPhones, two laptop computers, and a manila folder labeled “Eric Adams,” The New York Times previously reported.
Around that time, agents also searched the New Jersey homes of the mayor’s international affairs aide, Rana Abbasova, as well as Cenk Öcal, a former Turkish Airlines executive who worked on Adams’ transition team, according to the Times.
November 6, 2023: Adams’ electronic devices are seized in Manhattan
Just days after the FBI raids on the homes of those with ties to Adams, agents stopped Adams on the streets of Manhattan and seized his cell phones and iPad as part of the corruption investigation.
Two anonymous sources told the Times that the devices were returned to the mayor within days.
November 28, 2023: Adams’ top fundraiser removed
Adams announced on November 28, 2023 that Suggs no longer had a role in fundraising efforts for his re-election campaign, but did not provide further details.
Reports said that Suggs had been re-assigned.
February 29, 2024: Homes of Adams’ director of Asian affairs raided
FBI agents searched two Bronx homes belonging to Adams top aide Winnie Greco on February 29, 2024. Adams appointed Greco as his director of Asian affairs after he took office in January 2022.
July 2024: Adams served grand jury subpoenas
Federal prosecutors subpoenaed Adams, his election committee, and City Hall in July.
“We have not identified any evidence of illegal conduct by the mayor,” Adams’ attorneys said at the time.
The Associated Press, citing an anonymous source, reported at the time that the subpoenas sought details regarding the mayor’s schedule, his international travel, and possible links to the Turkish government.
September 4, 2024: More raids on the homes of top city officials, including then-NYPD commissioner
FBI agents searched the homes of multiple top city officials, including NYPD Commissioner Edward Caban, Deputy Mayor for Public Safety Philip Banks III, and First Deputy Mayor Sheena Wright who shares a home with New York City Schools Chancellor David Banks.
Electronic devices belonging to the officials were seized, according to the New York Post.
The Times reported that the seizures appeared to be unrelated to the corruption investigation targeting Adams.
September 12, 2024: NYPD commissioner resigns
Caban resigned from his position as the head of the NYPD on September 12.
“The news around recent developments has created a distraction for our department, and I am unwilling to let my attention be on anything other than our important work, or the safety of the men and women of the NYPD,” Caban said in an internal email, according to the Post.
September 14, 2024: Adams’ chief counsel resigns
Adams’ top legal advisor, Lisa Zornberg, resigned from her City Hall post on September 14. In a short resignation letter to Adams, Zornberg wrote that she “can no longer effectively serve in my position,” according to the AP.
September 21, 2024: FBI searches the home of the interim NYPD commissioner
Thomas Donlon, the interim NYPD commissioner, had his home searched by FBI agents on September 21. The agents seized classified documents from Donlon that he had had for years, two anonymous federal officials told the Times.
September 23, 2024: NYC health commissioner says he will step down
New York City Health Commissioner Ashwin Vasan announced that he will resign from his position so he could spend more time with his family.
September 24, 2024: NYC schools chancellor says he will retire
Banks, the New York City Schools Chancellor whose home was raided earlier in September, announced his plans to resign by the end of the year.
September 25, 2024: AOC calls on Adams to resign
Democratic New York Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez called for Adams to step down as mayor.
In a September 25 post on X, Ocasio-Cortez wrote, “I do not see how Mayor Adams can continue governing New York City.”
“The flood of resignations and vacancies are threatening gov function. Nonstop investigations will make it impossible to recruit and retain a qualified administration,” the lawmaker said. “For the good of the city, he should resign.”
September 25, 2024: News of an Adams indictment breaks
Multiple news outlets reported on September 25 that Adams had been indicted as part of a federal corruption probe.
“It is now my belief that the federal government intends to charge me with crimes. If so, these charges will be entirely false, based on lies,” Adams said in a videotaped statement.
“I always knew that if I stood my ground for all of you that I would be a target — and a target I became,” said Adams. “For months, leaks and rumors have been aimed at me in an attempt to undermine my credibility and paint me as guilty.”
Adams ignored calls to resign.
September 26, 2024: Adams indictment unsealed
The 57-page indictment against Adams was unsealed on September 26, detailing serious allegations of corruption, bribery and wire fraud.
During a press conference that day, Damian Williams, the US attorney for the Southern District of New York, said Adams broke “laws that are designed to ensure that officials like him serve the people, not the highest bidder, not a foreign bidder, and certainly not a foreign power.”
“These are bright red lines, and we allege the mayor crossed them again and again for years,” Williams said.
If convicted of charges, Adams could face 45 years behind bars.
September 27, 2024: Adams to be arraigned
Adams is scheduled to be arraigned on the charges against him in Manhattan federal court on September 27, according to court filings.
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