This story discusses allegations of sexual assault and abuse. If you or someone you know needs help, please call the National Sexual Assault Hotline at 800-656-4673.
(NewsNation) — New York City Mayor Eric Adams has been indicted by a federal grand jury on criminal charges that are still sealed, according to two people familiar with the matter.
The charges against Adams, a Democrat, were still sealed late Wednesday, according to the sources who spoke with The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to discuss the matter publicly.
Adams is a retired police captain who was elected as New York City’s 110th mayor nearly three years ago. The indictment makes Adams the first sitting New York City mayor to face criminal charges.
NYC investigations: Who’s resigned from Eric Adams’ administration?
Timeline of events in the federal investigation:
Nov. 2, 2023
The investigation into Adams’ 2021 mayoral campaign fundraising became widely known in November 2023. That’s when FBI agents searched the home of Brianna Suggs, who was a fundraiser for Adams during his 2021 campaign, and Rana Abbasova, who worked in the mayor’s international affairs office.
Nov. 6, 2023
Four days later, FBI agents seized phones and an iPad from Adams as he was leaving a public event in Manhattan.
“The mayor immediately complied with the FBI’s request and provided them with electronic devices,” lawyer Boyd Johnson’s statement said. “The mayor has not been accused of any wrongdoing and continues to cooperate with the investigation.”
Feb. 29, 2024
Federal agents raided two homes owned by Winnie Greco, Adams’ director of Asian affairs.
It is unclear if the raid was connected to Adams. The search of the properties came months after Adams associates’ homes were searched as part of a federal corruption probe centered on the mayor’s 2021 election campaign, which allegedly conspired with the Turkish government to receive illegal foreign donations.
Following the raid, Greco was put on leave.
July 2024
Adams received his own subpoena from federal prosecutors seeking information from him, his campaign, and City Hall.
Those subpoenas requested information about the mayor’s schedule, his overseas travel and potential connections to the Turkish government, according to a person familiar with the matter who spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to discuss the investigations.
Sept. 4, 2024
Federal agents on took devices from Adams’ police commissioner, his schools chancellor, two deputy mayors and several other advisers.
None of the officials involved have been charged with a crime, but the wave of searches added to a cloud of suspicion around Adams.
They also raised questions internally about the administration’s ability to stay focused on serving the nation’s largest city.
Sept. 12, 2024
New York Police Department Commissioner Edward Caban resigned amid a federal investigation involving alleged corruption, according to Mayor Eric Adams.
Caban said he decided to resign after the “news around recent developments” had “created a distraction for our department,” according to an email to the police department obtained by The Associated Press.
“I am unwilling to let my attention be on anything other than our important work, or the safety of the men and women of the NYPD,” he added.
Sept. 14, 2024
City Hall announced Lisa Zornberg’s abrupt departure.
She had advised Adams and other city officials on legal strategy for over a year and often parried legal questions from the media on his behalf. She was not his personal lawyer.
“It has been a great honor to serve the City. I am tendering my resignation, effective today, as I have concluded that I can no longer effectively serve in my position. I wish you nothing but the best,” Zornberg wrote in a three-sentence resignation letter to Adams.
Officials did not seize her phone, the AP reported.
Sept. 16, 2024
Two former New York City Fire Department chiefs were in custody Monday on charges that they solicited tens of thousands of dollars in bribes before ensuring the department’s fire-safety division gave preferential treatment to some individuals and companies.
Anthony Saccavino and Brian Cordasco were arrested on bribery, corruption and false statements charges alleging that they solicited and accepted the bribe payments from at least 2021 through 2023, authorities said.
Sept. 20, 2024
Federal prosecutors subpoenaed the director of the city’s Office of Asylum Seeker Operations to testify before a grand jury.
Molly Schaeffer, who coordinates the city’s efforts to get housing and social services for newly arrived migrants, received the subpoena at her Brooklyn home in September, according to a person familiar with the matter. The person spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to discuss the subpoena.
The authorities did not seize Schaeffer’s electronic devices — as they had done to several other Adams’ aides in recent weeks — but served her a subpoena requesting her presence in front of a federal grand jury in Manhattan, the person said.
Sept. 25, 2024
U.S. Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez called on Adams to resign, the first nationally prominent Democrat to do so. She cited the federal criminal investigations into the mayor’s administration and the string of unexpected departures of top city officials.
“I do not see how Mayor Adams can continue governing New York City,” Ocasio-Cortez wrote on the social platform X.
Adams reacted with scorn, dismissing Ocasio-Cortez as self-righteous.
In a statement to NewsNation on Wednesday night, Adams maintained his innocence.
Eric Adams indicted on federal criminal charges: Sources
“I always knew that If I stood my ground for New Yorkers that I would be a target—and a target I became. If I am charged, I am innocent and I will fight this with every ounce of my strength and spirit,” Adams said.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
