Brianna Suggs, a top fundraiser for Mayor Eric Adams, has switched legal representation amid a federal investigation into the mayor’s campaign.
Suggs has appointed Rebecca Ricigliano, a former federal prosecutor and current partner at Crowell & Moring, replacing her previous counsel from WilmerHale, the same firm representing Mayor Adams and his campaign team.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) raided Suggs’ residence in Brooklyn on November 2nd. The search was part of an inquiry to determine whether the Adams campaign had received unlawful contributions from Turkey.
Less than a week after the raid on Suggs’ home, Adams himself encountered the FBI, where agents seized his electronic devices after a public event.
Despite these actions, neither Suggs nor Mayor Adams have been charged with any wrongdoing.
Rebecca Carr, a spokesperson for Crowell & Moring, stated, “Our firm has been engaged to represent Brianna Suggs in connection with a publicly reported investigation,” emphasizing the firm’s readiness to cooperate with government inquiries.
Legal experts have suggested that Suggs sharing legal representation with Mayor Adams could have posed a conflict of interest if she faced charges.
On Tuesday, November 28th, Adams confirmed that Suggs is no longer involved in his campaign fundraising activities without elaborating on the reasons. He said, “With Brianna, she’s no longer doing fundraising for the campaign.”
However, she continues to be a part of the Adams campaign, having transitioned to a different yet unspecified role within the team.
In addition to Suggs, Rana Abbasova, Adams’ personal assistant and a member of the Mayor’s Office of International Affairs, also had her home searched by the FBI.
Following these events, Abbasova was put on leave after allegations of improper conduct related to Adams’ campaign.
Amid these developments, Mayor Adams’ reelection campaign, which has amassed over $2.5 million in campaign funds, faces the absence of two key members: a fundraiser and a spokesperson.
Adams has set up a legal defense fund to manage attorney fees related to the investigation, adhering to campaign finance regulations.
