Mayor Eric Adams. AP photo by Peter Afiryie
Nearly a year after FBI agents seized his phones, New York City Mayor Eric Adams faces an expanding constellation of federal inquiries involving his administration.
In recent weeks, the investigations have produced a drumbeat of subpoenas, raids and whiplash-inducing developments for the first-term Democrat. Federal investigators have visited more than a dozen members of his administration, taking devices from the police commissioner (who then resigned), the head of the public schools and other trusted confidantes both in and out of City Hall.
At least one high-ranking mayoral aide received a subpoena to testify before a grand jury.
Federal prosecutors have declined to discuss the investigations but people familiar with elements of the cases have described multiple, separate inquiries involving senior Adams aides, relatives of those aides, campaign fundraising and possible influence peddling at the police and fire departments.
Adams, a former police captain, has not been accused of wrongdoing and adamantly denies any knowledge of criminal activity.
Below, a look at what we know about the investigations:
A nightlife company run by the top cop’s twin
On the morning of Sept. 4, as federal agents fanned out across New York City to seize devices from some of the mayor’s closest advisors, they also traveled to Rockland County, roughly an hour north of the city. There, they visited the home of then-NYPD Commissioner Edward Caban, as well as the nearby residence of his twin brother, James Caban. Devices were taken from both homes.
James Caban used to be a cop, too, but he was fired by the NYPD in 2001 after he was heard on a recording threatening a cab driver. More recently, he has run a nightlife consulting business.
After the searches came to light, a Brooklyn juice bar owner publicly accused a mayoral aide, Ray Martin, of trying to extort him by claiming he would receive better police treatment if he hired James Caban…
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