FBI searches homes of two high-ranking deputies of NYC Mayor Adams, NYPD commissioner subpoenaed: sources

(NEW YORK) — The FBI searched the homes of two of New York Mayor Eric Adams’ closest aides on Thursday, sources familiar with the investigation told ABC News.

The Hamilton Heights home of First Deputy Mayor Sheena Wright, who is engaged to Schools Chancellor David Banks, and the Hollis, Queens home of Deputy Mayor for Public Safety Phil Banks were searched as part of the ongoing investigation, the sources said.

“Investigators have not indicated to us that the mayor or his staff are the target of any investigation,” Lisa Zornberg, the mayor’s senior counsel, said in a statement. “As a former member of law enforcement, the mayor has repeatedly made clear that all members of the team must follow the law.”

The FBI declined to comment. A spokesman for the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of New York also declined to comment.

According to sources, the FBI seized evidence, including electronic devices, during the searches, but no charges were filed.

In addition to the searches of Wright and Banks’ homes, which sources said began Wednesday morning, federal investigators also seized cellphones belonging to New York Police Commissioner Edward Caban and Tim Pearson, a close adviser to Adams, the sources said.

“The Department is aware of an investigation by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of New York involving members of the armed forces. The Department is cooperating fully with the investigation,” an NYPD spokesman said, referring further questions to the U.S. Attorney’s Office, which declined to comment.

Four high-ranking NYPD officers, including Caban, received subpoenas to surrender their cellphones. Three other NYPD officers received similar subpoenas. All complied and surrendered their phones, according to sources.

The subpoenas are part of the same investigation in which the FBI searched the homes of Wright and Banks, the sources said.

Wright and Banks are the highest-ranking officials in the Adams administration whose homes have been searched by federal investigators.

In 2014, Banks was investigated by federal authorities as part of a separate probe into corruption in the NYPD. He was named as an unindicted co-conspirator in that investigation but was never charged. He resigned from his post as chief of department, the highest position in the agency.

Federal agents have previously searched the homes of Brianna Suggs, the mayor’s top campaign fundraiser, Rana Abbasova, his international affairs adviser, and Winnie Greco, a special adviser to the mayor and director of Asian affairs.

A source familiar with the matter said Thursday’s searches did not appear to be related to the investigation into whether Adams accepted donations from Turkey in exchange for official favors.

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