Federal investigators issue subpoenas in NYC mayor’s foreign collusion case

Federal investigators issued subpoenas to New York City Mayor Eric Adams, City Hall, and Adams’s election committee in connection to a nearly yearlong investigation looking into allegations that Adams’s campaign received foreign donations from the Turkish government. 

The three subpoenas were served in July and are seeking text messages, emails, and other communication about travel by the mayor and his aides and fundraising. Investigators are looking to receive information related to people who worked on Adams’s 2021 campaign as well as those who worked in City Hall. 

The investigation alleges Adams and his campaign received illegal foreign donations from the Turkish government and, in exchange, rushed the fire department to approve Turkey’s consulate in Manhattan despite some safety concerns. In addition, the investigation will be looking at the free flight upgrades Adams received from Turkish Airlines. 

Adams’s lawyers, Brendan McGuire and Boyd Johnson III, both shared a statement with ABC News that argues the mayor’s innocence of the accusations waged against him.

“Our investigation has included an evaluation of campaign documents, an analysis of tens of thousands of electronic communications, and witness interviews,” McGuire and Johnson said in the statement. “To be clear, we have not identified any evidence of illegal conduct by the Mayor. To the contrary, we have identified extensive evidence undermining the reported theories of federal prosecution as to the Mayor, which we have voluntarily shared with the U.S. Attorney. We continue to cooperate with the investigation and are in the process of responding to the recently issued subpoenas. We continue to look forward to a prompt and just resolution of this investigation.” 

The FBI and prosecutors have been in contact with the lawyers for witnesses they previously interviewed with follow-up questions and clarifications. 

This investigation entered the public spotlight just nine months ago. Now, Adams faces dismal approval ratings and faces three Democratic challengers for his race in 2025.

However, the investigation could likely conclude without Adams facing any charges. This was the case for his predecessor, former New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio, who also faced very public federal and state criminal investigations centered on his campaign fundraising. He faced no charges and won his reelection in 2017. 

“As a former member of law enforcement, the mayor has been clear over the last nine months that he will cooperate with any investigation underway. Nothing has changed. He expects everyone to cooperate to swiftly bring this investigation to a close,” said Fabien Levy, the deputy mayor for communications, in a statement provided to ABC News.