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(NewsNation) — Like rats off a sinking ship, troubled NYC Mayor Eric Adams is finding himself increasingly isolated by friends, coworkers and employees who either have been indicted, investigated… or don’t want to be involved in either.
Adams was arraigned last week on charges that he accepted about $100,000 worth of free or deeply discounted international flights, hotel stays, meals and entertainment, and sought illegal campaign contributions from foreign interests.
The mayor has also had to sit by as people like Rana Abbasova, the director of protocol for the Mayor’s Office for International Affairs; Brianna Suggs, Adams’ former chief fundraiser; Police Commissioner Edward Caban; Caban’s twin brother, James; Adam’s chief of staff, Raul Pintos (as well as some NYPD precinct commanders) either had their homes searched by the FBI and/or had their phones taken by the government. (Full list of people involved in the investigation found here — it reads like a who’s who of City Hall).
“At this point it’s going to be just him and the rays at City Hall,” one insider quipped to me.
But Adams does have one good pal left — and he’s sticking up for the beleaguered mayor.
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New York City mayor Eric Adams arrives at Manhattan federal court, Friday, Sept. 27, 2024, in New York. (AP Photo/Yuki Iwamura) -
FILE – Mayor Eric Adams speaks during a press conference at City Hall in New York, Dec. 12, 2023. (AP Photo/Peter K. Afriyie, File) -
New York City Mayor Eric Adams talks to the press outside Gracie Mansion, the official residence of the mayor of New York City, on September 26, 2024, after he was indicted on federal criminal charges. US federal agents raided the official residence of Mayor Adams early September 26 ahead of the expected announcement of criminal charges against the former city cop once touted as a rising Democratic Party star. The search at the residence known as Gracie Mansion began before dawn, and is the latest shock twist in a graft investigation against the Adams administration. (Photo by TIMOTHY A. CLARY / AFP) (Photo by TIMOTHY A. CLARY/AFP via Getty Images) -
FILE – New York City Mayor Eric Adams speaks during a news conference at City Hall, Dec. 12, 2023, in New York. Mayor Adams mayor has once again been ticketed for a rat infestation at his Brooklyn property.(AP Photo/Peter K. Afriyie, File) -
New York City Mayor Eric Adams speaks during a news conference outside Gracie Mansion, Thursday, Sept. 26, 2024, in New York. (AP Photo/Yuki Iwamura)
Hip Hop Cop Derrick Parker, who served in the NYPD with his childhood friend Adams, told me: “I went to high school with (Adams). We’re good friends… I feel bad for him. I really do. I talked to him about maybe two or three months ago… I’m not in his inner circle, but his people. But I feel bad for him, because he really is a good guy — we went to high school together.”
As for what Parker thinks will happen to his friend? “He may have to resign,” Parker told me. “I wouldn’t like to see that, but … these Democrats are all vying for to get him out… but there are a lot of people questioning, well, if (the government) had all this information on him back in 2015, 2016 why didn’t they go after him when he was the borough president? Why wait until he became the Mayor?”