Mayor Eric Adams’ re-election campaign is launching its own review following an FBI raid on his chief fundraiser Brianna Suggs’ home, a key event in a federal corruption investigation scrutinizing potential illegal campaign donations from Turkey during Adams’ 2021 mayoral bid.
The campaign’s internal investigation was declared in the aftermath of federal agents searching Suggs’ residence. The campaign’s lawyer, Vito Pitta, announced that the review commenced immediately upon awareness of the federal inquiry, focusing on scrutinizing all relevant documents and the conduct of campaign personnel linked to the contributors in question.
During the raid at Suggs’ Crown Heights home, agents retrieved multiple electronic devices and documents, including one folder labeled “Eric Adams,” as reported by The New York Times.
Mayor Adams expressed his full confidence in Suggs, who, despite her youth at age 25, rose from an intern to head of fundraising. He commended her work and expressed a desire for her to remain on his team, contingent on her decision.
Adams, while not identified as a target of the investigation, issued a strong statement condemning any attempt to manipulate the campaign and asserting his ignorance of any improper conduct. He affirmed his readiness to cooperate with officials on the matter.
The FBI’s probe also encompasses a Williamsburg construction company and a small D.C. university with Turkish affiliations. KSK Construction Group, with an extensive real estate portfolio in NYC and alleged ties to the Turkish government, is being examined for its purported role in channeling foreign funds into Adams’ campaign through straw donors.
Investigations revealed that on a single day in 2021, numerous KSK employees donated nearly identical amounts totaling almost $14,000 to the Adams campaign. KSK’s owner, Erden Arkan, is among the donors. The company’s connections to Turkey include debts with a significant government-owned Turkish bank and educational ties of its owner.
Additionally, links between KSK and KiSKA, a prominent Turkish construction firm with a substantial presence in NYC and Turkey, have been brought to light. Despite the association with KiSKA, neither the company nor its principals have been implicated in the investigation.
KiSKA’s influence in Turkey is extensive, with completed projects for various government agencies, and in NYC, it boasts significant real estate holdings and contributions to notable projects like the High Line. Attempts to obtain comments from representatives of KSK and KiSKA were unmet.
This development unfolds as Mayor Adams prepares for his 2025 re-election campaign amidst a backdrop of federal scrutiny, raising questions about campaign finance integrity and foreign influence in local elections.
