policy
NEW YORK (AP) — Federal investigators this week seized cellphones belonging to the New York Police Commissioner and no less than 4 top deputies of New York Mayor Eric Adams, people conversant in the matter say.
FBI agents seized the devices on Wednesday from the homes of several high-ranking city officials, said two individuals who spoke on condition of anonymity because they weren’t authorized to debate the continuing investigation. The officials include First Deputy Mayor Sheena Wright, Philip Banks, the deputy mayor for public safety, his brother David Banks, the town's schools chancellor, and Timothy Pearson, an aide to the mayor and former senior New York Police Department official.
One of the people said federal investigators also seized equipment from the house of Police Commissioner Edward Caban.
The searches are a part of a flurry of investigative activity surrounding Adams' administration, his campaign and the Democrat himself in his first term. He had previously received subpoenas and his electronic devices were seized as a part of federal investigations.
Federal authorities haven’t accused him or any of his officers of any crimes, and Adams, a retired police captain, has denied any wrongdoing.
“I have made it clear throughout my public life that my message is to obey the law,” Adams said Thursday evening on New York's Fox 5 television channel.
He had previously told reporters at City Hall that the administration would release the knowledge it needed when it had it. “And I will continue to be mayor of the city of New York.”
Lisa Zornberg, City Hall's lead attorney, said in a press release that investigators had provided no indication that the mayor or his staff were “the target of any investigation.”
The NYPD said in a press release that it was aware of and cooperating with an investigation by Manhattan-based federal prosecutors “involving members of the armed forces.” The agency referred further investigations to prosecutors, who, like an FBI spokesman, declined to comment.
Benjamin Brafman, a lawyer for Philip Banks, confirmed that the homes of Philip Banks and Terence Banks, an adviser and brother of David and Philip Banks, were searched.
The searches are the newest sign that federal authorities are taking a better have a look at members of Adams' inner circle.
He took office as mayor in 2022 after serving as Brooklyn borough president and state senator.
Last fall and winter, the FBI raided the house of a senior fundraiser for Adams' campaign, the residence of an official within the mayor's administration's Office of International Affairs, and properties belonging to Adams' director of Asian affairs.
Federal agents seized the mayor's phones and iPad as he left a Manhattan event in November, and earlier this summer he, his campaign team and City Hall received subpoenas from federal prosecutors.
One of the people conversant in the matter said the recent subpoenas requested information concerning the mayor's schedule, his foreign travel and possible ties to the Turkish government.
The latest wave of searches of individuals near Adams appeared unrelated to the Turkey investigation, the person said. It was not immediately clear whether federal authorities were searching for information related to 1 or more investigations.
Adams appointed Caban, a veteran NYPD officer, as police commissioner last summer. He is the primary Latino to guide the nation's largest police force.
Pearson, whom the mayor has described as a “good friend,” has an unusual role in city government: He works for the quasi-governmental Economic Development Corporation but in addition has influence over the police department. He is currently facing several lawsuits accusing him of sexually harassing female employees and can also be under investigation for his role in a fight at a homeless shelter. An attorney representing Pearson within the sexual harassment lawsuit didn’t immediately reply to a call.
Federal prosecutors had previously named Philip Banks as an “unindicted co-conspirator” in an investigation right into a police bribery scheme during former Mayor Bill de Blasio's tenure. Banks abruptly retired in 2014 but returned to city government after Adams took office in 2022.
David Banks, the colleges chancellor, shares a house in Harlem along with his partner Sheena Wright, the primary deputy mayor.
He declined to comment as he left an event at a New York school on Thursday.
“Today is the first day of school. It's all about the kids. If there are any further comments, it will be tomorrow,” David Banks told Fox 5 New York.
Terence Banks founded a consulting firm “dedicated to connecting businesses with government and community stakeholders” after leaving the Metropolitan Transportation Authority last yr. The authority operates subways, buses and commuter rail and shouldn’t be under the supervision of the mayor, who appoints some members of the board.
Timothy Sini, an attorney for Terence Banks, said in an email that the federal government had assured his client that he was “not the target of this investigation.”
The news portal “The City” was the primary to report on the searches.
A spokesman for the town's law enforcement agency declined to comment.
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