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NYC Mayor Adams’ fundraiser Brianna Suggs hires new lawyer amid federal probe into campaign
By
Elizabeth Kim
and
Giulia Heyward
Published Nov 28, 2023
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Lev Radin / Pacific Press / LightRocket via Getty Images
By
Elizabeth Kim
and
Giulia Heyward
Published Nov 28, 2023
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A top campaign fundraiser for New York City Mayor Eric Adams whose Brooklyn home was raided by the FBI earlier this month has hired a new attorney to represent her in connection with an apparent federal investigation into the mayor’s campaign — raising the possibility that she could be cooperating with federal investigators.
The fundraiser, Brianna Suggs, has hired Rebecca Ricigliano, a partner at international law firm Crowell & Moring, according to a spokesperson for the firm. Suggs had previously been using the services of WilmerHale, the law firm representing Adams and members of his campaign around the probe.
Ricigliano is a former federal prosecutor who worked for the Southern District of New York and now cochairs Crowell & Moring's white collar practice group.
“Our firm has been engaged to represent Brianna Suggs in connection with a publicly reported investigation,” spokesperson Rebecca Carr said in a statement. “We look forward to continued cooperation with the government’s investigation, and her work in support of the Mayor’s 2025 campaign.”
During a press conference Tuesday, Adams revealed Suggs is no longer fundraising for his campaign, but did not say why.
“I’m not gonna go into personal conversations,” he said, deflecting follow-up questions on why Suggs is no longer fundraising.
Suggs did not immediately respond to a request for comment Tuesday afternoon. Jordan Barowitz, her spokesperson, declined to comment.
Neither Suggs nor the mayor has been accused of wrongdoing. Legal experts told Gothamist that Suggs having the same attorney as Adams would have presented a conflict of interest should she be charged with a crime.
Suggs is among at least two people in the mayor’s inner circle whose belongings and electronic devices have reportedly been seized by the FBI. Adams also had his electronic devices taken by FBI agents when they approached him on the street after a public event earlier this month, less than a week after the raid on Suggs’ home.
Agents raided the home of Rana Abbasova, a personal assistant to Adams and member of the Mayor’s Office of International Affairs, on Nov. 2 — the same day as the Suggs raid — according to the New York Times.
City Hall later said Abbasova had “acted improperly” in relation to Adams’ campaign and had been placed on leave.
Adams’ reelection campaign has raised more than $2.5 million, though it is now missing two critical staffers, a fundraiser and a spokesperson. The mayor has launched a legal defense fund to help cover attorney fees he incurs amid the ongoing probe, but campaign finance rules limit which kinds of donations are allowed.
Evan Thies, a longtime adviser to Adams who served as his campaign spokesperson, told Gothamist last week he would no longer be responding to questions about the reelection campaign. City Hall has routinely referred questions about the campaign to Thies.
But Thies said he had only served as Adams’ 2021 campaign spokesperson. “I have never been a spokesperson for the 2025 campaign,” he wrote in a text.
Adams' 2025 campaign had not yet hired a spokesperson, according to Thies. He said Suggs and Vito Pitta, a compliance attorney whose firm was hired by the campaign, were currently the only two campaign staffers.
As of Monday, City Hall’s press office was still referring reporters to Thies for inquiries about the reelection campaign.
Tagged
investigation
campaign finance
new york city
eric adams
mayor's office
sdny
fbi
Evan Thies
City hall
Elizabeth Kim
Elizabeth Kim is a reporter on the People and Power desk who covers mayoral power. She previously covered the pandemic, housing, redevelopment and public spaces. A native of Queens, she speaks fluent Mandarin. Got a tip? Email [email protected]
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Giulia Heyward
Giulia Heyward is a breaking news reporter on the Day-Of desk. She previously worked at NPR, as a breaking news reporter, and the New York Times, as a reporting fellow on the national desk. Her work has also appeared in CNN, The Atlantic and Politico. Got a tip? Email [email protected] or more securely on signal at 917-715-1458.
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Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
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