Federal authorities seize Eric Adams’ phone after indictment against NYC mayor

FBI agents raided the New York mayor’s mansion at dawn Thursday morning, just hours after sources revealed that Mayor Eric Adams had been indicted by a federal grand jury.

Adams countered with a video message declaring that all charges against him were “completely false and based on lies” and insinuating that his criticism of the Biden administration’s disastrous border policies made him a target of retaliation.

“The federal government did nothing while its failed immigration policy overwhelmed our admissions system with no help,” he said. “For me, the people of New York are more important than party and politics.”

NEW YORK CITY MAYOR ERIC ADAMS INJURED

New York City Mayor Eric Adams participates in a press conference on gun violence at the Office of Chief Medical Examiner in New York City on June 26, 2023. Mayor Adams was joined by First Deputy Commissioner Edward A. Caban and Chief Medical Examiner Jason Graham as they announced that OCME’s DNA Gun Crimes Unit, the first in the nation, became the fastest metropolitan crime lab in the country for testing and analyzing gun crimes, reducing testing times from 60 days to 30 days or less. (Michael M. Santiago/Getty Images)

According to sources, agents seized the mayor’s phone during the morning operation, although it was not immediately clear whether Adams was at Gracie Mansion when they arrived.

According to Adams’ attorney Alex Spiro, they did not arrest him.

“This morning, federal agents showed up at Gracie Mansion to create a spectacle (again) and confiscate Mayor Adams’ phone (again),” he told the Associated Press. “They’re sending a dozen agents to pick up a phone that we were happy to turn over.”

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David Gelman, a New Jersey-based criminal defense attorney and legal representative for the Trump campaign, said federal authorities likely executed a search warrant to seize the data on the mayor’s devices.

However, he also questioned the case against Adams.

An NYPD officer stands guard outside Gracie Mansion, the official residence of New York City Mayor Eric Adams, in New York, Thursday, September 26, 2024. (AP Photo/Yuki Iwamura)

“The question is whether it is politically motivated,” he said. “That’s possible. The Justice Department has shown over the last 3.5 years that it functions as a weapon.”

Adams accused federal authorities of a pressure campaign aimed at making him look guilty and undermining his credibility.

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Members of the media gather outside Gracie Mansion, the official residence of New York City Mayor Eric Adams, in New York on Thursday, September 26, 2024. (AP Photo/Yuki Iwamura)

“Just last week they searched the home of our new police chief for documents from 20 years ago, just a week after he joined my administration,” he said. “Enough is enough. I will fight these injustices with every ounce of my strength and spirit.”

He insisted on his innocence and spoke out against calls for his resignation.

“Now, if I’m indicted, many will say I should resign because I can’t lead the city while fighting the case,” he said. “I also understand that New Yorkers are naturally concerned that I can’t do my job while facing allegations. But I’ve had to face these lies for months, since I started speaking for all of you and your investigation began, and yet the situation in the city has continued to improve. Make no mistake, you elected me to lead this city and I will lead it.”

Details of the charges were expected to be released later Thursday morning.

“We have no idea what the charges or accusations are, but Adams and his legal team were well aware that the charges would be dropped,” Gelman said. “Nobody knows if they cooperated, but when the feds target a person, they don’t hit them.”

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Federal agents have conducted a series of raids on Adams’ inner circle in recent weeks, which included the new police chief, his successor and other high-ranking aides from the mayor’s office and his campaign team.

The FBI is reportedly investigating whether Adams’ 2021 mayoral campaign colluded with the Turkish government and others to raise funds. Some New York officials have also been investigated for possible investigations into contacts with China.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.