NEW YORK (AP) — New York Metropolis Mayor Eric Adams on Friday stood by a longtime adviser whose properties have been raided by the FBI and shrugged off issues concerning the mounting federal probes of individuals linked to his administration.
FBI brokers searched two Bronx addresses Thursday owned by Winnie Greco, a former fundraiser for Adams who now serves as his director of Asian affairs. Additionally they searched the New World Mall in Flushing, Queens, a preferred Asian meals court docket the place a number of fundraisers have been held for Adams’s 2021 mayoral marketing campaign.
Greco is at the very least the third Adams aide whose house has been focused by federal brokers. Brokers have additionally seized the mayor’s cellphones and an iPad in a separate federal probe targeted at the very least partly on whether or not his marketing campaign conspired with the Turkish authorities to obtain unlawful marketing campaign contributions from international sources.
Throughout a spherical of native media appearances Friday, the Democrat stated his administration is cooperating with investigators and that he stays dedicated to serving metropolis residents.
“The inquiry goes to take its course,” Adams stated on 1010 WINS information radio. “It’s crucial for me to remain targeted on public security, enhancing the town. That’s what I obtained to do.”
“My job is to ensure trash is off the streets and the town is clear,” he stated on NY1. “Those that are doing evaluations of any actions which may be perceived to be incorrect, they’re going to do their job.”
Adams additionally defended Greco, a prolific fundraiser who has labored carefully with him for over a decade and served as his conduit to Asian American communities. He has ceaselessly appeared alongside Greco on the New World Mall, together with throughout an occasion held final month to rejoice the Chinese language New 12 months.
Marketing campaign data present Adams held at the very least three fundraisers at a restaurant contained in the mall, bringing in dozens of donations that totaled $249 — the utmost quantity that qualifies for the town’s beneficiant matching funds program.
When requested particularly if he nonetheless had confidence in Greco throughout an look on WPIX-TV, the mayor rapidly responded: “Sure, I do.”
Adams disclosed Friday that she is on sick depart for now and that the query of whether or not she’ll be positioned on unpaid administrative depart shall be addressed later.
The mayor’s workplace stated later that Greco skilled a “medical episode” throughout Thursday’s raid that required federal authorities to request an ambulance to take her to the hospital.
The administration declined to supply additional particulars of the incident apart from to emphasize that Greco is not going to be performing any metropolis duties till the investigation is full.
Federal authorities haven’t revealed the aim of Thursday’s raid — which was overseen by the U.S. legal professional’s workplace in Brooklyn — together with whether or not it’s associated to Adams.
In November, the town’s Division of Investigation opened a probe into Greco’s conduct following a information report that raised questions on her political fundraising and whether or not she used her place within the administration to acquire private advantages.
In line with that report, revealed by the native information outlet The Metropolis, Greco demanded {that a} metropolis worker full free renovations on her house when he was imagined to be working.
___ This story has been up to date to right it by deleting a reference to a Metropolis Corridor spokesperson saying Thursday that Greco was positioned on administrative depart. The spokesperson didn’t say that.
