FBI Conducts Raids Against New York City Mayor Eric Adams' Top Aides

On Thursday, the FBI conducted multiple home raids against some of New York City Mayor Eric Adams' (D) top administration officials, including First Deputy Mayor Sheena Wright and Deputy Mayor for Public Safety Philip Banks III. The raids come amid a months-long investigation by the bureau to determine whether the Adams campaign conspired with the Turkish government to receive illegal campaign contributions from foreign backers.

While the motivation behind the raids on the top NYC officials is unclear, sources familiar with the investigation told The New York Post that the bureau is attempting to get someone close to Adams to flip on the mayor of America's biggest city. The investigation has now prompted raids on five of Adams' allies, but the mayor has denied all wrongdoing.

A lawyer for city hall, Lisa Zornberg, explained that Mayor Adams has been cooperating with the investigation. "Investigators have not indicated to us the mayor or his staff are targets of any investigation. As a former member of law enforcement, the mayor has repeatedly made clear that all members of the team need to follow the law," Zornberg explained, per NBC News.

As previously reported by the DC Enquirer, the FBI seized Mayor Adams' personal devices last year after an FBI raid on the campaign's chief fundraiser. During the raid of 25-year-old Brianna Suggs' home on November 2, agents confiscated two laptops, three iPhones, and a folder labeled "Eric Adams."

The FBI raids on these top New York officials aren't the only action by the Justice Department this week in The Empire State. As previously reported by the DC Enquirer, the DOJ brought charges against Gov. Kathy Hochul's (D-NY) former Deputy Chief of Staff Linda Sun, and her husband, Christopher Hu, for allegedly acting as an undisclosed agent of the Chinese Communist Party and the Chinese government. 

The 64-page indictment alleges that Sun worked to block Taiwanese officials from visiting with the governor and used her influence in the governor's office to skew statements in a pro-China perspective, all while laundering millions of dollars from the CCP. Sun also attempted to arrange a high-profile visit to China for a top New York state official.

In exchange for these services, Sun's husband received millions of dollars from the CCP through various business ventures he conducted in China. With the funds from the Chinese government, the couple bought a $4.1 million mansion in Long Island that the FBI raided. "As alleged, while appearing to serve the people of New York as Deputy Chief of Staff within the New York State Executive Chamber, the defendant and her husband actually worked to further the interests of the Chinese government and the CCP," stated United States Attorney Breon Peace. "The illicit scheme enriched the defendant's family to the tune of millions of dollars. Our Office will act decisively to prosecute those who serve as undisclosed agents of a foreign government."

The FBI and Justice Department seem particularly busy in New York, where politicians and their close associates appear to be cutting corners to gain power, prestige, and wealth.

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