Mayor Eric Adams under investigation for alleged role in Turkish consulate high-rise

Federal authorities are investigating New York City Mayor Eric Adams for potential misconduct related to his alleged intervention in the approval process of the Turkish government’s new high-rise consulate in Manhattan.

The investigation centers around Adams’ alleged pressure on New York Fire Department officials to green light the building’s occupancy, despite safety concerns raised by fire officials, the New York Times reported. 

The mayor’s involvement reportedly took place weeks before his election two years ago.

After securing the Democratic mayoral primary in July, Adams is said to have contacted then-Fire Commissioner Daniel A. Nigro in late summer 2021, urging the approval of the Turkish government’s occupancy of the Turkevi Center. 

The building had faced safety issues, and fire officials had refused to sign off on its occupancy. The investigation is part of a broader public corruption probe conducted by the FBI and federal prosecutors in Manhattan, which recently led to the seizure of the mayor’s electronic devices.

Adams’ intervention reportedly allowed Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan to preside over the grand opening of the $300 million, 35-story tower in September 2021, despite known flaws in its fire safety system. 

The federal inquiry is also examining whether Adams’s 2021 campaign collaborated with the Turkish government to illegally funnel foreign money into its funds.

The investigation further delves into the role of KSK Construction, a Brooklyn-based company owned by Turkish immigrants, which organized a fundraising event for Adams in May 2021. The FBI’s search warrant for the home of the mayor’s chief fundraiser, Brianna Suggs, indicates a focus on whether Adams’ campaign received benefits from the Turkish government in exchange for contributions. No charges have been publicly disclosed, and Adams and his campaign deny any wrongdoing.

Adams, who served as Brooklyn borough president before becoming mayor, had established connections with the Turkish consulate general, with records indicating that the consulate funded part of his 2015 trip to Turkey. The investigation is also exploring contributions from Bay Atlantic employees, another entity mentioned in the search warrant.

The mayor’s ties to the Turkish government have a longstanding history, including signing a sister-city agreement with Istanbul’s Uskudar municipality during his 2015 trip. 

Despite these connections, Adams and his campaign maintain their innocence, emphasizing cooperation with investigators.

City records reveal ongoing issues with the Turkevi Center months before Erdogan’s visit, including a rejected fire protection plan and a building violation after a glass panel fell. The building still operates under a temporary certificate of occupancy due to reported deficiencies in smoke detectors, elevators, fans, and other areas.

In 2016, the Republic of Turkey filed plans for the new, crescent-inspired 35-story tower.

The roughly 217,500-square-foot building includes 102,000 square feet of office space and 20 apartments across 41,000  square feet, according to a permit application filed with the city’s Department of Buildings. 

The Republic of Turkey bought the five-story rental building on the site at 342 East 46th Street for $5.1 million in September 2011 and owns various buildings on the East Side.

The structure was expected to be completed in 2018, but wasn’t finished until 2021, hence the involvement of the Adams administration.

— Ted Glanzer