New York Mayor Eric Adams denied wrongdoing Tuesday (Nov. 14) in connection with a federal probe into his 2021 mayoral campaign dealings with the Turkish government, saying “we follow the law,” The Associated Press.

City Hall Chief Counsel Lisa Zornberg said that “there has been no indication that I’ve seen that the mayor is a target.” However, she declined to answer several other questions, including whether the FBI asked to interview Adams.

The public learned of an investigation on Nov. 2 when federal agents raided the Brooklyn home of Adams’ chief fundraiser, Briana Suggs. They seized computers, cell phones and other items.

According to a New York Times, the search warrant indicated that the federal government was conducting a broad public corruption probe into whether Adams’ election campaign conspired with the Turkish government to receive illegal foreign contributions funneled through straw donors. 

Days later, federal agents confiscated Adams’ cell phones and iPad. The Times reported that agents were looking into whether Adams, as Brooklyn borough president, pressured city fire department officials to approve opening a newly constructed Turkish government building in Manhattan despite fire safety concerns.

Adams acknowledged Tuesday (Nov. 14) that he contacted the fire commissioner “to find out what was happening” but didn’t order him to do anything. 

At the time, Adams had just won the mayoral Democratic primary and was poised to win the general election in the heavily Democratic city. Adams said he was doing his duty as borough president to help Turkish constituents in Brooklyn.

“This is what we do every day. You reach out to an agency and ask them to look into the matter. You don’t reach out to an agency to compel them to do anything,” he said.

Adams also denied violating campaign funding laws.

“We don’t do the straw donors. We don’t, you know, do quid pro quo. We follow the law. I’m very clear on that,” Adams stated.