What we know about the investigations surrounding the New York Mayor

NEW YORK — Nearly a year after FBI agents seized his phones, New York City Mayor Eric Adams is facing a growing number of federal investigations into his administration.

In recent weeks, investigations have produced a drumbeat of subpoenas, raids and whiplash for the first-term Democrat. Federal investigators have visited more than a dozen members of his administration, taking devices from the police commissioner (who has since resigned), the superintendent of public schools and other trusted confidants both inside and outside City Hall.

At least one top mayoral aide has been subpoenaed to testify before a grand jury.

Federal prosecutors have declined to provide specific details about the investigations, but people familiar with some elements of the cases described multiple separate investigations into Adams’ senior aides, relatives of aides, campaign fundraising and possible influence peddling within police and fire departments.

Adams, a former police chief, has not faced any charges and has flatly denied knowledge of criminal activity.

Here’s a look at what we know about the investigations:

On the morning of September 4, as federal agents fanned out across New York City to seize devices from some of the mayor’s closest advisers, they also traveled about an hour north of the city to Rockland County. There, they visited the home of then-NYPD Commissioner Edward Caban and the nearby residence of his twin brother, James Caban. Devices were taken from both homes.

James Caban was also formerly a cop, but was fired by the NYPD after he was heard on a recording threatening a taxi driver in 2001. More recently, he ran a nightlife consulting business.

After the calls were discovered, a Brooklyn juice bar owner accused Deputy Mayor Ray Martin of trying to extort him by claiming he would receive better police treatment if he hired James Caban as a consultant. As part of the investigation, police seized the phones of several precinct-level NYPD officials.

A week after the searches, Caban announced he was resigning, telling officers he did not want the investigations to be “distracting.” That same day, Martin was fired from his job at City Hall.

His attorney, Sean Hecker, said in a statement that James Caban “categorically denies any wrongdoing.” An email to Martin was not returned. Edward Caban’s attorney did not respond to phone and email messages.

Adams has turned to a pair of brothers to oversee the city’s two most important institutions, its public schools and police department, after taking office in 2022. He named Philip Banks, formerly a top NYPD chief, as deputy chief of public safety and David Banks, who runs a network of boys’ schools, as schools chancellor.

That same day, federal investigators went to the Caban brothers’ home and seized devices from Philip and David Banks, as well as David Banks’s life partner, First Deputy Chief Sheena Wright.

Agents also took the phone of Banks’ youngest brother, Terence Banks.

Terence Banks, previously a mid-level manager with the New York City subway system, founded a consulting firm that promised to connect businesses to key government stakeholders. The firm represented companies seeking work with city agencies, including the education and police departments.

Some of these companies received millions of dollars in city contracts, according to public records, and in one case a personal meeting with the school chancellor — after hiring Terrence Banks.

Both David and Terence Banks said they did not believe they were targeted by the investigation. Philip Banks’ lawyer, Benjamin Brafman, told reporters he believed his client had “zero criminal responsibility.”

David Banks and Philip Banks remain in their positions. Adams defended them, noting that his relationship with the family dates back to his time serving under their father in the police department.

Tim Pearson, an influential figure who is rarely seen in the public eye, is one of the mayor’s most trusted advisors. Despite facing multiple lawsuits accusing him of sexual harassment and a city investigation into his role in a fight at an immigrant shelter, Pearson has maintained the support of the mayor, whom he served with on the police department decades ago.

Pearson’s electronic devices were also seized by federal authorities earlier this month. It’s unclear what aspect of his work may be under scrutiny. Among his wide-ranging responsibilities, Pearson played a key role in approving contracts for the city’s migrant shelters.

Last Friday, Molly Schaeffer, the city director of Refugee Operations who works closely with Pearson, received a subpoena to testify before a grand jury. Unlike other deputies, her devices were not seized by federal agents.

Jennifer Beidel, a former Assistant U.S. Attorney in Manhattan, said issuing subpoenas for testimony usually means the investigation has reached the point where prosecutors have provided a grand jury with the evidence they will need to decide whether to indict someone.

An attorney representing Pearson in the civil lawsuit did not respond to a request for comment. Pearson has not spoken publicly since the searches.

The first sign that federal authorities were investigating people close to Adams came in early November, when agents searched the home of Brianna Suggs, one of Adams’ biggest fundraisers.

Then on November 6, FBI agents stopped Adams as he was leaving an event in Manhattan and seized his cellphones and iPad.

The home of Adams’ liaison to the Turkish community in New York and a former Turkish airline executive were also searched.

As part of that investigation, federal prosecutors sought information about a time when Adams was still the Brooklyn borough president but had won the Democratic primary and was expected to be elected mayor in the fall. At the time, Turkish officials were trying to expedite the Fire Department’s approval of a new diplomatic building that had been held up because of security concerns.

Over the summer, federal prosecutors summoned to court Adams has requested information from his campaign arm and City Hall about the mayor’s schedule, foreign travel and possible connections to the Turkish government.

Adams has denied any wrongdoing. The mayor’s private attorneys said they had turned over “extensive evidence that undermines the reported theories surrounding the federal prosecution of the mayor.”

Federal prosecutors are also investigating Winnie Greco, the city’s Asian affairs director and a longtime Adams ally. Unlike the other investigations, this one is being led by Brooklyn federal prosecutors.

Federal prosecutors also issued subpoenas to a Brooklyn church last week, seeking information about possible ties between a priest and Frank Carone, Adams’ former chief of staff who now runs his own lobbying firm.

Greco has not commented publicly on the FBI’s searches of his property and continues to work for the city. Carone told reporters he was not aware of any criminal investigations connected to him.

Two top fire chiefs have been arrested on charges that they solicited tens of thousands of dollars in bribes from people seeking preferential treatment from the Fire Department’s safety inspection bureau. Both have pleaded not guilty.

On Friday, federal authorities searched the homes of New York City’s newly appointed interim police commissioner, Thomas Donlan, Materials unrelated to police work were seizedDonlon confirmed the search and said materials he had in his possession for 20 years were also found.

He did not say what the investigation was about, but a person familiar with the investigation said it involved classified documents from Donlon’s years working for the FBI. The person spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to speak publicly about the investigation.