XPost: alt.politics.democrats, alt.fan.rush-limbaugh, talk.politics.guns   
   XPost: sac.politics, law.court.federal   
   From: yourdime@outlook.com   
      
   NEW YORK (AP) — New York City Mayor Eric Adams has been indicted by a   
   grand jury on federal criminal charges, according to two people familiar   
   with the matter, an extraordinary culmination to weeks of searches,   
   subpoenas and resignations of top officials that have thrust the city’s   
   government into crisis.   
      
   The indictment detailing the charges against Adams, a Democrat, was   
   expected to be unsealed Thursday, according to the people, who spoke with   
   The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because they were not   
   authorized to discuss the matter publicly.   
      
   The U.S. attorney’s office in Manhattan declined to comment.   
      
   In a speech recorded at his official residence, Adams said he would remain   
   in office, describing any charges he may face as “entirely false, based on   
   lies.”   
      
   “I always knew that if I stood my ground for all of you, that I would be a   
   target — and a target I became,” Adams said. "I will fight these   
   injustices with every ounce of my strength and my spirit."   
      
   It was not immediately clear what laws Adams is accused of breaking or   
   when he might have to appear in court.   
      
   Federal investigators had seized Adams' electronic devices nearly a year   
   ago as part of an investigation focused, at least partly, on campaign   
   contributions and Adams' interactions with the Turkish government. Because   
   the charges were sealed, it was unknown whether they dealt with those same   
   matters.   
      
   The indictment was first reported by The New York Times.   
      
   It marks a stunning turn for Adams, a former police captain who won   
   election nearly three years ago to become the city’s second Black mayor on   
   a campaign that stressed his working class roots and commitment to public   
   safety. But as Adams has made reducing crime a cornerstone of his   
   administration, he has faced growing legal peril, with multiple federal   
   investigations honing in on his top aides and his own campaign.   
      
   In the last two weeks alone, the leaders he appointed to oversee the   
   country's largest police force and largest schools system have announced   
   their resignations.   
      
   Adams is the first mayor in New York City history to be indicted while in   
   office. If he were to resign, he would be replaced by the city’s public   
   advocate, Jumaane Williams, who would then schedule a special election.   
      
   Gov. Kathy Hochul has the power to remove Adams from office. Hochul   
   spokesperson, Avi Small, issued a statement late Wednesday that said   
   “Governor Hochul is aware of these concerning news reports and is   
   monitoring the situation. It would be premature to comment further until   
   the matter is confirmed by law enforcement.”   
      
   The indictment comes against the backdrop of the United Nations General   
   Assembly, which has brought dozens of world leaders to New York, including   
   Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.   
      
   The federal investigations into Adams administration first emerged   
   publicly on Nov. 2, 2023, when FBI agents conducted an early morning raid   
   on the Brooklyn home of his chief fundraiser, Brianna Suggs.   
      
   At the time, Adams insisted he followed the law and said he would be   
   “shocked” if anyone on his campaign had acted illegally. Days later, FBI   
   agents seized the mayor’s phones and iPad as he was leaving an event in   
   Manhattan.   
      
   Then on Sept. 4, federal investigators seized electronic devices from the   
   city’s police commissioner, schools chancellor, deputy mayor of public   
   safety, first deputy mayor and other trusted confidantes of Adams both in   
   and out of City Hall.   
      
   Federal prosecutors declined to discuss the investigations, but people   
   familiar with elements of the cases described multiple, separate inquiries   
   involving senior Adams aides, relatives of those aides, campaign   
   fundraising and possible influence peddling of the police and fire   
   departments.   
      
   A week after the searches, the city's police commissioner, Edward Caban,   
   announced his resignation. About two weeks later, Schools Chancellor David   
   Banks announced he would retire at the end of the year.   
      
   Adams himself insisted he would keep doing the city’s business and allow   
   the investigations to run their course.   
      
   Over the summer, federal prosecutors subpoenaed Adams, his campaign arm   
   and City Hall, requesting information about the mayor’s schedule, his   
   overseas travel and potential connections to the Turkish government.   
      
   Adams spent 22 years in New York City’s police department before going   
   into politics, first as a state senator and then as Brooklyn borough   
   president. He was elected as mayor in November 2021 — a victory he has   
   repeatedly said was ordained by God.   
      
   But after more than two years in office, Adams’ popularity has declined.   
   While the city has seen an increase in jobs and a drop in certain   
   categories of crime, the administration has struggled with an influx of   
   tens of thousands of international migrants who overwhelmed the city’s   
   homeless shelters.   
      
   There has also been a steady drip of accusations and a swirl of suspicion   
   around people close to the mayor.   
      
   In addition to the sprawling inquiries launched by Manhattan prosecutors,   
   federal prosecutors in Brooklyn are investigating another one of Adams’   
   close aides, Winnie Greco, who had raised thousands of dollars in campaign   
   donations from the city’s Chinese American communities and later became   
   his director of Asian affairs. Greco hasn’t commented publicly on the FBI   
   searches of her properties and continues to work for the city.   
      
   When agents seized electronic devices from Caban, the former police   
   commissioner, in early September, they also visited his twin brother,   
   James Caban, a former police officer who runs a nightlife consulting   
   business.   
      
   Agents also took devices from the schools chancellor; his brother Philip   
   Banks, formerly a top NYPD chief who is now deputy mayor for public   
   safety; their brother Terence Banks, who ran a consulting firm that   
   promised to connect businesses to government stakeholders; and from First   
   Deputy Mayor Sheena Wright, who is David Banks’ domestic partner.   
      
   All denied any wrongdoing.   
      
   While those investigations churned, federal authorities also searched the   
   homes of newly named interim police commissioner, Thomas Donlan, and   
   seized materials unrelated to his police work. Donlon confirmed the search   
   and said it involved materials that had been in his possession for 20   
   years.   
      
   In his speech Wednesday night, Adams appeared to cite that search as proof   
   of overreach by federal investigators.   
      
   Hours before the charges were announced, U.S. Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-   
   Cortez called on Adams to resign, the first nationally prominent Democrat   
   to do so. Adams reacted with scorn, dismissing Ocasio-Cortez as self-   
   righteous.   
      
   Adams, who is expecting a tough primary election next year, faced   
      
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