As Democrats prepare to go prime time for their national convention in Chicago next week, Mayor Eric Adams finds himself facing an unwanted spotlight stemming from a federal investigation that legal experts say could soon come to a head.
The New York Times reported late Thursday that Adams and his campaign received subpoenas last month as part of a federal corruption investigation. City Hall confirmed the multiple subpoenas to Gothamist.
The news marked another development in a closely watched probe that threatens the mayor’s political future. It has now been nine months since an FBI raid of his top fundraiser‘s house revealed the wide-ranging federal probe that has touched members of his 2021 campaign and City Hall. The mayor has not been accused of wrongdoing and has insisted that he followed fundraising rules.
Nevertheless, the investigation coupled with low approval ratings have left the incumbent mayor vulnerable to a rare primary challenge.
And legal experts told Gothamist the subpoenas were a sign the case is heading toward a conclusion. According to the Times, the investigation began in 2021 before Adams took office.
Carrie Cohen, a former corruption prosecutor who worked on the case that convicted Sheldon Silver, the former state Assembly speaker, said while there’s no specific time limit, she would estimate that 9 to 12 months after serving subpoenas “would be the time to close out an investigation or seek indictments from the grand jury.”
She added that the one-year timeframe was especially relevant for public corruption cases involving sitting elected officials.
During an interview on The Reset talk show Friday, Adams echoed his lawyers’ claims that he and his team are eager to cooperate with federal investigators.
“From the first time this happened, we’ve been extremely transparent about making sure if there are documents … if they want to see text messages or any other items, we’re going to turn it over and walk away, I believe, showing that I did nothing wrong,” he said. “I’m a former law enforcement person. I believe in following the rules and I’ve stated all over and over again, and our team knows, that we’re going to turn over any information that is needed to come to a swift conclusion in this review. “
In response to the Times’ story, Adams’ attorney Brendan McGuire released a statement Thursday saying that the campaign has been conducting its own investigation.
“To be clear, we have not identified any evidence of illegal conduct by the mayor,” the statement read. “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.”
Daniel Richman, a Columbia Law School professor and former federal prosecutor, said both the report of the subpoenas and the fact that Adams’ lawyers had made an investigation and said they presented those findings to the U.S. Attorney’s office “suggests, though not conclusively, that a decision about whether or not to charge Adams is near.”
He added that the seizure of Adams’ phone last fall was itself a strong indication that prosecutors are taking the case seriously.
The federal case has reportedly examined Adams’ campaign’s ties to Turkish government officials. Last November, Gothamist reported that the mayor’s administration had fast tracked inspections for a Turkish consulate building. According to the Times, sources said the subpoenas in July sought text messages and other communications related to the investigation.
As Adams heads to the DNC next week, the subpoenas may pose a problem for his ability to flex his political clout. But with the presidential race now in full swing, it won’t be the top issue on the party’s mind.
It’s unclear how much the investigation will register with Democrats at the convention, said Basil Smikle, a political strategist and MSNBC analyst, “but it does make asserting himself as a national leader more difficult.”
That by itself may be a bitter pill for Adams, who once proclaimed himself the “face of the new Democratic party.” Last year, President Joe Biden’s campaign dropped him as a surrogate after he criticized the president’s handling of migration at the US southern border. On Wednesday, Adams took part in a Harlem rally for Vice President Kamala Harris, but there are no indications that he will play a prominent role in her campaign.
While the subpoenas won’t help Adams’ standing in the national party, political experts were hesitant to jump to conclusions about their effect on his ability to win reelection in 2025.
“It takes a direct indictment of an elected official to move voters,” said Matthew Wing, a Democratic consultant. “Subpoenas — or even having aides and confident face charges — aren’t likely to have an impact on the race.”
Still, Smikle pointed out, “It’s a reminder that this investigation is still active and continues to incentivize would-be challengers in a primary.”
Adams’ predecessor faced law enforcement probes, too — and came out relatively unscathed.
During Mayor Bill de Blasio’s first term in office, he and members of his campaign and administration faced dueling state and federal investigations into his fundraising. Less than a year after the federal investigation began, prosecutors released memos announcing that they would not be pressing charges against the mayor or his team, but offering a stern rebuke of their conduct.
De Blasio went on to be easily reelected in 2017, facing a nominal primary challenger and winning the general election with more than 66% of the vote.
Earlier this week, the mayor said he was looking forward to attending the convention.
“I didn’t think in my lifetime I would be able to see not only two people of color, but also a woman to be the first president,” he told reporters on Tuesday. “So I’m excited about that.”
This story has been updated with a comment from Adams.
Brigid Bergin and Michelle Bocanegra contributed reporting.