Federal agents raided the homes of several top aides to Democratic New York City Mayor Eric Adams, adding to the growing legal challenges facing his administration. Among those targeted were Deputy Mayors Phil Banks and Sheena Wright, as well as other key officials.
Though the reason for the raids remains unclear, law enforcement sources indicated that the FBI also confiscated the phone of Timothy Pearson, a close aide to Adams. Additionally, former MTA official and lobbyist Terence Banks, brother to Phil Banks, was reportedly involved in the investigation, as was NYPD Commissioner Edward Caban.
The investigation, which is being led by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of New York, is unrelated to a separate federal probe involving Adams’ connections to Turkey. That investigation led to a subpoena for Adams in August. The latest raids have sparked additional questions about potential misconduct within the mayor’s administration.
In a February statement, Adams defended his team, attributing some of the legal scrutiny to the racial diversity of his deputy mayors. “Have you ever seen this much chocolate leading the City of New York?” Adams remarked, suggesting that the investigation could be driven by prejudice.
The NYPD confirmed its full cooperation with the ongoing investigation, though details remain sparse. The developments have placed increased pressure on Adams and his allies as federal investigations continue to unfold.
