The city government’s corruption watchdog is still investigating Mayor Adams for potential violations of local law in connection with his federal indictment — and has obtained authorization to obtain evidence that the Manhattan U.S. Attorney’s Office used to bring the since-dismissed charges against him.
The ongoing investigation by the city Department of Investigation was disclosed in an order issued Wednesday evening by Manhattan Federal Court Judge Dale Ho, who presided over Adams’ federal corruption case, which was overturned last spring by President Trump’s Justice Department.
Adams’ federal indictment, which accused him of accepting bribes and illegal campaign money, primarily from Turkish government agents in exchange for political favors, was dropped by the DOJ in April after it said the case needed to be dismissed so the mayor could better aid Trump’s “mass deportation” efforts.
The DOJ’s motion to dismiss did not rule on the merits of the charges against Adams, although the mayor has always maintained that there was no wrongdoing on his part.
In April, Ho wrote that the terms of the dismissal “smack of a bargain” but reluctantly approved them “with prejudice,” barring federal authorities from attempting to prosecute Adams again for the same alleged crimes.
But the “subject” test applies to the federal government, not to local investigative and prosecutorial agencies, and Ho’s order Wednesday evening confirms that the DOI has not finished investigating Adams’ alleged wrongdoing in the Turkey investigation.
The order, which was first reported by news outlet The City, specifically states that the DOI is investigating Adams for a “potential violation of New York City’s conflict of interest law” stemming from the federal case. The filing does not further specify what exactly the DOI is studying.
The filing says the DOI, with consent from the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Manhattan, may seek evidence from Adams that was turned over to it by the federal government after his indictment was dismissed, such as “electronically stored information” and sealed documents.
A DOI spokeswoman declined to comment Thursday. Lawyers for Adams — who already owes more than $4.5 million in legal fees from his federal case — did not respond to requests for comment.
During the bribery case, questions emerged about whether Adams allegedly violated local laws by failing to report on his annual financial disclosure forms that he received deeply discounted airline tickets and other gifts from Turkish nationals that the federal government said constituted bribes. These financial disclosures are filed with the city’s Conflict of Interest Board.
Ho’s order mentions that any evidence Adams has in his possession may also be turned over to the Conflict of Interest Board in the event of “any referral.”
The DOI does not have the authority to file complaints independently. However, he can initiate criminal proceedings or administrative measures with local prosecutors as well as the Conflict of Interest Board.
A spokeswoman for the Conflict of Interest Board did not immediately return a request for comment Thursday, nor did a representative for Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg.
After the controversial dismissal of his corruption case, Adams dropped his re-election bid. He is expected to leave office on January 1 after becoming the first New York mayor in modern memory to face criminal indictment.
