The documents reveal more links between Eric Adams and the country at the center of his corruption investigation

Democratic New York City Mayor Eric Adams attended more than 80 events focused on Turkey, a country whose ties to Adams are the basis of an ongoing federal corruption investigation, according to documents obtained by Politico.

Adams’ top campaign fundraiser, Brianna Suggs, was the goal of an FBI search warrant executed Nov. 2 while Adams’ electronic devices were seized by the FBI by November 10th. The investigation centers on whether Adams’ 2021 mayoral campaign received illegal campaign donations from Turkey, a country with which Adams had a close relationship while serving as the Brooklyn Borough President in the City of New York. York, in accordance with the report.

During his eight years as district president, Adams attended more than 80 events that celebrated or commemorated Turkey, many of which were hosted by Turkish companies and industry groups, according to the report. Turkish Airlines, the country’s largest airline, is among the most frequent hosts or affiliates. He previously hosted Adams at Manhattan’s posh Metropolitan Club, and in 2015 reportedly paid for one of his six trips to Turkey, an in-kind gift it allegedly was. omitted from their financial disclosure forms for that year.

The NYT has a helpful flow chart of Eric Adams’ known ties to Turkey: https://t.co/spYPAx6XIw pic.twitter.com/HYo3nwtw6c

— Andrew Giambrone (@AndrewGiambrone) November 15, 2023

When he became mayor, Adams appointed a Turkish Airlines executive, Cenk Öcal, the airline’s director in New York, to his mayoral transition team on a committee that focused on infrastructure, according to the report

One of Adams’ trips was also funded by the Turkish government through its consulate general in New York City, seconds to multiple reports and gave him the opportunity to meet Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan. He has also met frequently with Turkish diplomatic officials in the United States, particularly the Turkish consul general, according to The New York Times.

In October 2022, Adams’ chief of staff, Frank Carone, and New York City’s Commissioner of International Affairs, Edward Mermelstein, attended a real estate conference in Istanbul to to encourage Turkish investment in the city, according to the report. Adams addressed the conference virtually via television, although the engagement was left out of his public schedule.

The FBI’s ongoing investigation focuses on donations to KSK Construction Group, a Turkish-owned company based in Brooklyn, and Bay Atlantic University in Washington, DC, owned by a Turkish businessman. Employees of those two organizations gave tens of thousands of dollars to Adams’ 2021 campaign, as did individuals from the Turken Foundation and the Turkish-American National Steering Committee, which the Times has described as “groups pro-Erdogan”.

The investigation also looks into Adams’ role in supporting the opening of the Turkish Consulate General in New York City in 2021, where he reportedly lobbied then-Fire Department Commissioner New York City Daniel Nigro to grant a certificate to the $300 million facility. of employment, according to Politico.

The FDNY had reportedly refused to grant a certificate to the building, but did so temporarily after Adams intervened, after which the building was formally opened by Erdogan on a visit to the States united

Adams’ office did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

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