Yoav Gonen, George Joseph, Author at THE CITY

Weihong Hu leaves Brooklyn Federal Court after a hearing in her public corruption case.

Comptroller Urges Cancellation of $20M Contract Extension for Indicted Eric Adams Campaign Fundraiser

March 19, 2025, 6:00 a.m.March 19, 2025, 9:52 a.m.

Weihong Hu faces federal charges tied to alleged bribery at her Queens hotel housing formerly incarcerated people — and has surrounded herself with close allies of the mayor.

The Rev. Al Cockfield, center, ed other faith leaders at City Hall to announce a new program with Mayor Eric Adams to help house migrants.

Adams World: Investigated

Prosecutors Probe Dealings Between Pastor Close to Adams and Hotel Developer Who Got Help

Nov. 27, 2024, 5:38 p.m.Dec. 2, 2024, 10:04 a.m.

Simultaneous FBI raids on mayoral fundraisers Al Cockfield and Weihong Hu follow an investigation by THE CITY, The Guardian and Documented into their Department of Buildings interventions.

Adams World: Investigated

Eric Adams Reaped Public Dollars From a So-Called Small-Donor Barbecue. Video Shows a Lavish Long Island Soiree Instead.

Nov. 13, 2024, 5:00 a.m.Nov. 13, 2024, 1:04 p.m.

Seeking $362,000 in matching funds, the Adams campaign reported 231 small donors, linked to a party costing less than $500. The reality was caviar and cognac with a host whose mall was later raided by the FBI.

Eric Adams and Weihong Hu at a June 2021 fundraiser for Adams' mayoral campaign at her hotel in Fresh Meadows, Queens, which was housing men discharged from city jails at the time.

City Hall

How a Hotel Developer Bought Her Way Into Eric Adams’ World — Then Won Favors From City Hall

May 23, 2024, 5:05 a.m.Oct. 8, 2024, 10:21 a.m.

Weihong Hu poured money into Adams’ campaigns and enlisted two of the mayor’s close associates to work with her companies. She then landed business deals and favorable decisions from the Adams istration, an investigation by THE CITY, The Guardian US, and Documented reveals.

Eric Adams

Donors to Adams’ 2025 Campaign Say They Were Secretly Reimbursed Thousands of Dollars

Feb. 1, 2024, 5:00 a.m.Oct. 8, 2024, 10:23 a.m.

An investigation by THE CITY, Documented and The Guardian US finds evidence of new instances of an illegal practice at the center of law enforcement probes of the mayor’s political contributions.

KSK Construction had their headquarters in Williamsburg.

Politics

Eric Adams Donor Claims Boss Reimbursed Campaign Contribution Tied to Event Now Under FBI Investigation

Dec. 7, 2023, 5:00 a.m.Dec. 7, 2023, 5:17 p.m.

The Adams campaign listed the donation as from a May 2021 fundraiser organized by a co-owner of a Turkish-American company under probe for possible illegal foreign funds routed through employees. “He gave me the money in cash,” said the donor.

Eric Adams

An Adams Deputy Press Secretary Was a Foreign Agent for Turkish Trade Group in 2021

Nov. 29, 2023, 1:48 p.m.Nov. 29, 2023, 1:56 p.m.

Amaris Cockfield was briefly ed to work on behalf of the Turkish-U.S. Business Council. Later, she ed the Adams istration — and her father, Rev. Al Cockfield, formed a political action committee that paid the Adams fundraiser recently raided by the FBI.

A screenshot of a photo taken outside a rally on Oct. 12, 2023 appears to show Councilmember Inna Vernikov with a firearm on her hip.

Law Enforcement

Brooklyn DA Drops Gun Charge Against City Council Member, Citing ‘Inoperable’ Weapon

Nov. 17, 2023, 10:49 a.m.Nov. 17, 2023, 10:55 a.m.

The NYPD did not arrest Inna Vernikov at the rally, and recovered the gun only when she voluntarily turned it in the next day. Police then found the weapon was missing a piece and didn’t work — leading to the dismissal, the district attorney’s office said.

Then-Brooklyn Borough President Eric Adams took part in a 2018 groundbreaking for the Turken House in Manhattan.

Adams World: Investigated

Turkey Probe: Eric Adams Campaign Took Money from Leaders of Erdogan-Backed Foundation

Nov. 8, 2023, 3:59 p.m.Nov. 14, 2023, 2:47 p.m.

The foundation, incorporated by Erdogan’s son, has spent tens of millions to erect a 21-story flagship building in Manhattan. As Brooklyn Borough President, Adams attended its groundbreaking — and met Erdogan himself.

District 48 candidates Democrat Amber Adler and Team Trump Party candidate Igor Kazatsker are shown in a diptych.

City Council

Two Competing City Council Campaigns in Brooklyn Paid the Same Lawyer and Consultants

Nov. 6, 2023, 3:26 p.m.Nov. 6, 2023, 3:27 p.m.

Democrat Amber Adler’s campaign is also being investigated for taking illegal straw donations from two people tied to one of those consultants, North Shore Strategies.

George Joseph

Comptroller Urges Cancellation of $20M Contract Extension for Indicted Eric Adams Campaign Fundraiser

Prosecutors Probe Dealings Between Pastor Close to Adams and Hotel Developer Who Got Help

Eric Adams Reaped Public Dollars From a So-Called Small-Donor Barbecue. Video Shows a Lavish Long Island Soiree Instead.

How a Hotel Developer Bought Her Way Into Eric Adams’ World — Then Won Favors From City Hall

Donors to Adams’ 2025 Campaign Say They Were Secretly Reimbursed Thousands of Dollars

Eric Adams Donor Claims Boss Reimbursed Campaign Contribution Tied to Event Now Under FBI Investigation

An Adams Deputy Press Secretary Was a Foreign Agent for Turkish Trade Group in 2021

Brooklyn DA Drops Gun Charge Against City Council Member, Citing ‘Inoperable’ Weapon

Turkey Probe: Eric Adams Campaign Took Money from Leaders of Erdogan-Backed Foundation

Two Competing City Council Campaigns in Brooklyn Paid the Same Lawyer and Consultants

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