In a dramatic escalation of the legal troubles surrounding New York City Mayor Eric Adams, the FBI raided the homes of several top aides in his administration. Deputy Mayors Phil Banks and Sheena Wright were among the high-profile figures whose homes were searched, according to numerous sources. The FBI also reportedly seized the phone of another close aide, Timothy Pearson.
Law enforcement sources confirmed that the investigation is being led by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of New York. While the specific reason for the raids remains undisclosed, they come amid increased federal scrutiny of the Adams administration. The raids also reportedly involved Terence Banks, a lobbyist and brother of Phil Banks, as well as NYPD Commissioner Edward Caban, a key Adams ally.
This investigation appears to be separate from another ongoing federal probe into Mayor Adams’ dealings with Turkey, which led to a subpoena in August. Adams has previously pushed back against claims of wrongdoing, suggesting that the racial diversity of his administration’s leadership could be a factor in the scrutiny. “Look at my deputy mayors! Have you ever seen this much chocolate leading the City of New York?” Adams said earlier this year.
With these recent developments, the mayor and his aides face mounting legal challenges as federal investigators continue to delve into the inner workings of the administration. So far, neither Adams nor his deputies have issued public statements on the raids.
