Mayor Adams’ reelection marketing campaign late Wednesday disclosed greater than $113,000 in new funds to Brianna Suggs, his former political fundraising coordinator whose precise function on his crew has not been publicly disclosed.
Suggs — the 2025 marketing campaign’s highest paid vendor up to now — was faraway from her longtime fundraising job after her residence was raided in late 2023 as a part of the federal investigation into Adams’ Turkish authorities ties. The brand new funds are described as being for consulting work, although it stays unclear what her precise duties on the marketing campaign are since her function shift.
One among of the brand new funds to Suggs — within the quantity of $33,249 and described as compensation for a fundraiser — is dated Feb. 9, 2023, however has not been publicly disclosed till now as a part of Adams’ newest marketing campaign finance submitting. Candidates are speculated to report expenditures for the disclosure intervals through which they’re incurred.
The remainder of the Suggs funds, totaling $80,000, are from 2024, after she switched out of the fundraising function.
Among the 2024 funds are additionally dated outdoors of the most recent reporting interval, together with a number of from August 2024 — simply earlier than Adams was indicted on legal fees alleging he took bribes and unlawful marketing campaign money from Turkish authorities operatives in trade for political favors.
Adams has pleaded not responsible.
Adams’ marketing campaign lawyer, Vito Pitta, didn’t return a request for remark late Wednesday.
FBI brokers raid the Brooklyn residence of Mayor Adams’ marketing campaign guide, Brianna Suggs, in accordance with a supply and revealed studies. Suggs raised cash for Adams throughout his 2021 marketing campaign. (Obtained by Each day Information)
An legal professional for Suggs didn’t return a request for remark, both. Her lawyer has beforehand acknowledged she’s not cooperating within the investigation into Adams’ Turkey ties, which the feds say stays ongoing. No fees have been filed in opposition to Suggs.
Accounting for the most recent funds, Adams’ reelection marketing campaign has since March 2022 paid Suggs $430,160 — virtually 10% of the $4.5 million it has raised in complete up to now. No different vendor or staffer has been paid as a lot by Adams’ 2025 marketing campaign, in accordance with a assessment of his filings.
Adams’ 2021 marketing campaign paid Suggs one other $51,500, filings present.
The November 2023 raid at Suggs’ Brooklyn residence was the primary public regulation enforcement motion taken as a part of the Adams-Turkey investigation. It catapulted the probe into the general public highlight and created a significant controversy for Adams, who’s now anticipated to go on trial in April on the legal fees that got here out of the Turkey investigation.
After the raid, Adams stated Suggs would not work as his predominant political fundraising coordinator. He did say he would keep on his marketing campaign in one other put up, the particular duties of which have since not been spelled out.
Suggs has labored for Adams for years, beginning as an intern at Brooklyn Borough Corridor when he was borough president. She’s personally shut with Adams’ indicted ex-chief adviser Ingrid Lewis-Martin, who calls Suggs her “goddaughter.”
FBI brokers raid the Brooklyn residence of Mayor Adams’ marketing campaign guide, Brianna Suggs, in accordance with a supply and revealed studies. Suggs raised cash for Adams throughout his 2021 marketing campaign. (Obtained by Each day Information)
As a part of his newest marketing campaign submitting, Adams additionally disclosed he obtained a $2,100 donation, the authorized max, from “Madison Square Garden New York,” with none individual listed within the paperwork as having made the contribution. Campaigns can’t legally settle for contributions from firms, and Pitta didn’t return a request for touch upon that matter, both.
Additionally within the newest reporting interval, the mayor’s 2025 marketing campaign doled out $2,400 to the Riverdale Yacht Membership and $419 to Zero Bond, the members-only SoHo membership he frequents, the most recent filings present. The funds have been each issued on Nov. 26 and are listed as being for fundraisers.
With Josephine Stratman
Initially Printed: January 16, 2025 at 11:38 AM EST
