Federal agents on Thursday raided the home of a top fundraiser and longtime confidante to New York City Mayor Eric Adams, who abruptly ditched a planned White House meeting and flew home from Washington.
Quick Read
- Federal agents raided the home of Brianna Suggs, a top fundraiser and confidante to NYC Mayor Eric Adams.
- The raid in Brooklyn was confirmed by a law enforcement official anonymously.
- Mayor Adams canceled his White House meeting and returned to New York City unexpectedly.
- The law enforcement official did not confirm if Suggs was the investigation’s target.
- Adams’ attorney, Vito Pitta, stated the mayor wasn’t contacted for the inquiry and pledged compliance with any investigations.
- Suggs is a campaign consultant to Adams and has raised significant funds for his campaigns.
- She also lobbied on behalf of corporate clients with interests before the city government.
- Adams proceeded without at a White House sit-down with other mayors.
- Suggs’ dual role as a fundraiser and lobbyist has been under scrutiny.
- Neighbors saw agents with FBI jackets leaving Suggs’ home with evidence.
- The federal prosecutor’s office in Manhattan, via spokesperson Nicholas Biase, declined to comment on the matter.
- Recent months have seen legal issues for several associates of Mayor Adams.
- In July, a straw donor scheme led to charges against six people related to Adams’ campaign funds.
- Eric Ulrich, former city buildings commissioner under Adams, was charged with corruption unrelated to Suggs’ case.
- Ulrich has pleaded not guilty along with his co-defendants.
The Associated Press has the story:
Federal agents search home of fundraiser for NYC Mayor Eric Adams
Bewslooks- NEW YORK (AP)
Federal agents on Thursday raided the home of a top fundraiser and longtime confidante to New York City Mayor Eric Adams, who abruptly ditched a planned White House meeting and flew home from Washington.
Agents searched the home of Brianna Suggs in Brooklyn, a law enforcement official told The Associated Press. The official, who was not authorized to publicly disclose details of the investigation, spoke to the AP on condition of anonymity. The official declined to say whether Suggs was the target of an investigation.
Vito Pitta, an attorney for the Adams campaign, said the mayor was not contacted as part of the inquiry. “The campaign has always held itself to the highest standards,” he added. “The campaign will of course comply with any inquiries, as appropriate.”
Suggs, who did not immediately respond to a request for comment, is a campaign consultant to Adams who raised money for his election effort and also lobbied his administration on behalf of corporate clients.
News of the raid came shortly after Adams announced that he was abruptly returning to New York City from a planned trip to Washington D.C. to “deal with a matter.”
A sit-down with senior White House staff and the mayors of Denver and Chicago proceeded without Adams in attendance. A spokesperson for City Hall declined to comment on the cancellations, deferring comment on the raid to the Adams campaign.
Suggs has worked closely with Adams since at least 2017, when he was Brooklyn Borough President.
She later joined his mayoral campaign, helping to raise more than $18.4 million for his primary and general elections, according to her LinkedIn profile.
Suggs has continued to solicit donations for Adams’ reelection bid, while simultaneously starting her own lobbying firm last year, records show. Her clients have included real estate interests with business before the city, including a Chinatown mall that was seeking a lease renewal.
Her dual efforts as fundraiser and lobbying have drawn scrutiny from good government groups, though she has denied wrongdoing.
A neighbor, Christopher Burwell, said he saw close to a dozen people in FBI windbreakers leaving Sugg’s apartment shortly after 9 a.m. The agents were carrying at least one box, he said.
A spokesperson for the federal prosecutor’s office in Manhattan, Nicholas Biase, declined to comment.
Suggs is the latest Adams associate – and one of several people involved in his fundraising activity – to face legal trouble in recent months. In July, six people were charged in a straw donor conspiracy scheme to divert tens of thousands of dollars to Adams’ campaign. Those charges were filed in state court, and did not directly implicate the mayor.
The former city buildings commissioner under Adams, Eric Ulrich, was also charged in September with using his position to dole out favors, including access to the mayor, in exchange for cash and other bribes.
Ulrich and his six co-defendants have pleaded not guilty.
