New York City Mayor Eric Adams has fired his go-between with the Turkish government following claims that she has agreed to tell prosecutors about bribes she arranged for him.

Rana Abbasova, the Mayor’s director of protocol for international affairs, has been on leave since the FBI searched her home in November last year. She is accused of organizing illegal campaign donations and improper travel benefits that the Mayor allegedly received in exchange for giving special favors to Turkish developers.  

Abbasova’s work with Turkey began even before Adams became New York City mayor in 2022, dating back to his time as Brooklyn borough president. According to the indictment, during her FBI interview after her home was searched, Abbasova excused herself to go to the bathroom and deleted the encrypted messaging apps she used to talk with Adams, a promoter, a Turkish official, an airline manager, and others. The mayor placed her on leave, and sources close to him said she acted “improperly” by asking other staff members to delete text messages. 

A spokesman at the time stated that the Adams administration had “discovered someone acting improperly” and immediately reported it to investigators. The spokesman emphasized that the mayor had not been accused of any wrongdoing. However, that narrative was derailed turn on September 25 when Adams was indicted on federal charges of bribery, fraud, and seeking foreign campaign donations. 

Adams was the first New York City mayor to be criminally charged while still in office. He faces charges of receiving campaign donations from foreign nationals, conspiracy to commit wire fraud, and federal program bribery. He is also accused of defrauding New York City taxpayers out of $10 million with allegedly fake campaign funds. He pleaded not guilty at his arraignment, saying he did nothing wrong. 

The indictment accuses Abbasova of spending years organizing illegal foreign donations for Adams’ campaign and arranging travel upgrades for him, his family, and associates. However, her departure happened just days after the Department of Justice had to release evidence that the Mayor’s lawyers say hurts her credibility as a witness.  

Meanwhile, more people have departed from Adams’ team, including his long-time advisor, Winnie Greco, who resigned. Greco, formerly the mayor’s director of Asian affairs, had her home searched by the FBI in February due to allegations that she demanded bribes, such as asking a campaign volunteer to remodel her kitchen in exchange for a job in the administration. 

According to court documents, Greco traveled with Adams and his son to France, Turkey, Sri Lanka, and China in 2017. Later that year, she joined him on another trip to Beijing, passing through Turkey and Nepal. Those tickets cost over $16,000. The indictment says that Adams accepted several expensive gifts from Turkish officials, including stays at fancy hotels in Istanbul. 

In addition to Greco’s resignation, Mohamed Bahi, who was part of the mayor’s Community Affairs Unit, also stepped down. 

Adams is accused of pushing the FDNY to approve a Turkish government-owned high-rise in Manhattan, even though it failed safety checks, in exchange for “luxury travel benefits.” U.S. Attorney Damian Williams said Adams took “corrupt official action” for these travel perks. Williams also said there was a rush to open the building before a visit from Turkey’s president, pressured by a Turkish official. 

Abbasova, who worked for Adams for years and was recently the City’s director of Protocol for International Affairs, hasn’t been charged with any crimes and is cooperating as a witness, according to sources. However, these sources say she is called “the Mayor’s staffer” in the 57-page indictment against Adams. 

Adams continues to claim the indictment was fueled by his decision to question the Biden administration’s handling of illegal immigrants who have been flooding his city. Former President Donald Trump had predicted Adams’s indictment after learning the beleaguered mayor had dared to demand answers from Biden a year ago. “And I was exactly right,” he said in late September.