By Daily Mail (U.S.) | Created at 2024-10-08 06:45:40 | Updated at 2024-10-08 11:45:35
5 hours ago
Eric Adams has fired his intermediary with the Turkish government amid claims she has agreed to tell prosecutors about the bribes she allegedly arranged for him.
The shockwaves from the FBI indictment against the New York Mayor claimed more victims on Monday as Rana Abbasova was fired and director of Asian affairs Winnie Greco resigned from City Hall.
Abbasova, the Mayor's former director of protocol for international affairs, has been on leave since the FBI raided her home in November last year.
She is accused in the indictment of coordinating 'many of the illegal campaign contributions and improper personal travel benefits' that the Mayor allegedly received in return for giving planning favors to Turkish developers.
And her departure marks an ominous development for her long-time boss as he prepares to return to court on November 1.
New York City Mayor Eric Adams fired Rana Abbasova on Monday amid reports she is co-operating with prosecutors in the federal bribery case against him
Adams pleaded not guilty on September 27 to charges of fraud and bribery in a case that marks a stunning downfall for a man once touted as a future Democratic Party star
Her work liaising with Turkey stretches back before Adams' election as city mayor in 2022 to his years as borough president of Brooklyn.
The indictment claims that during her interview with the FBI after the raid on her home she 'excused herself to a bathroom and, while there, deleted the encrypted messaging applications she had used to communicate with Adams, the promoter, the Turkish Official, the Airline Manager, and others'.
The mayor placed her on leave with sources close to him claiming she had acted 'improperly' in asking other staffers to delete text messages.
'As we have repeatedly said, we recently learned of an individual who acted improperly, which we promptly reported to investigators,' a spokesman said at the time.
'The most important thing to remember is that the mayor has not been accused of any wrongdoing.'
That changed in dramatic fashion on September 25 when Adams was indicted on federal charges of bribery, fraud, and soliciting foreign campaign donations.
Adams is charged with conspiracy to commit wire fraud, federal program bribery, and receiving campaign contributions from foreign nationals.
He is also accused of defrauding NYC taxpayers of $10million through allegedly fraudulent campaign funds.
He pleaded not guilty at his arraignment and claimed he has done nothing wrong after becoming the first mayor in the city's history to face criminal charges while in office.
Winnie Greco, 61, the city's director of Asian affairs, also left on Monday amid claims she promised a job to a campaign volunteer in exchange for renovating her kitchen
Adams poses with advisor Winnie Greco at the Hong Kong Dragon Boat Festival in August
Abbasova had been Adams' contact person with the Turkish community since his days as president of Brooklyn and is accused of arranging illegal campaign contributions
The indictment claims that Abbasova spent years arranging illegal foreign 'straw' donations to the Adams campaign along with travel upgrades for the Mayor, his family and associates.
But Abbasova's enforced departure came days after the Department of Justice forced to release evidence which the Mayor's lawyers claim discredits her as a witness.
Prosecutors are required to disclose and hand to the defense any 'Brady evidence' they discover which is favorable to a defendant's case.
Defense attorney Alex Spiro linked the disclosure of Brady evidence on Friday to Abbasova's dismissal on Monday.
'These prosecutors, finally, after much delay and misdirection, have admitted they were hiding Brady material about the key witness in the case that proves Mayor Adams is innocent,' Spiro told nbcnewyork.com.
But the exodus continued to gather pace with the resignation of Adams' long-time confidante Winnie Greco.
She served as the mayor's director of Asian affairs and saw her home raided in February by FBI agents investigating claims she demanded bribes, including asking a campaign volunteer to renovate her kitchen in exchange for a job in the administration.
Greco was a constant figure at Adams' side and accompanied him and his son on a 2017 trip to France, Turkey, Sri Lanka and China, according to the court papers.
Late that year shew joined him on a trip to Beijing via Turkey and Nepal on tickets worth more than $16,000.
According to the indictment, Adams' relationship with Turkish officials saw him accept a number of luxurious gifts, including stays in lavish Istanbul hotels.
Adams allegedly pressured the FDNY to open a Turkish government-owned high rise in Manhattan in exchange for 'luxury travel benefits' - despite the building failing safety inspections.
US Attorney for the Southern District of New York Damian Williams alleged Adams 'took corrupt official action in exchange for some of the luxury travel benefits'.
He alleged there were 'significant time pressures' to open the building in time for a visit from Turkey's president, at the urging of a Turkish official.
