NEW YORK, NEW YORK – NOVEMBER 14: New York City Mayor Eric Adams attends a news conference on November 14, 2023 in New York City. An ongoing investigation by the FBI is looking into whether Adams and members of his administration received campaign finance funding from the Turkish government after reports that he allegedly pressured the city fire officials and others to approve its new Manhattan consulate despite numerous safety concerns. (Photo by Spencer Platt/Getty Images)
Following the news of a federal investigation into Mayor Eric Adams' campaign, City Hall announced that a staffer had been placed on leave after it was determined she had acted “improperly."
Two sources familiar with the matter identified the member of the administration as Rana Abbasova, the Director of Protocol for International Affairs. According to her bio on the city website, Abbasova's role was to "foster closer relationships between the City of New York and the broader diplomatic community." She previously worked in the Brooklyn borough president's office.
Abbasova did not immediately respond to requests for comment. Abbasova has not been charged in any investigation and no official has said she acted illegally. Additionally, none of the statements specifically state why the mayor's office believes Abbasova acted inappropriately.
News of Abbasova’s alleged misconduct was first reported when a lawyer confirmed Mayor Adams’ cell phone and iPad were seized by the FBI. A campaign attorney said last week that "after learning of the federal investigation, it was discovered that an individual had recently acted improperly."
The attorney did not detail Abbasova's specific conduct, but said "in the spirit of transparency and cooperation, this behavior was immediately and proactively reported to investigators."
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City Hall spokesperson Fabien Levy described Abbasova as a "junior staffer" who was put on leave right away, and remained on leave as of Wednesday night.
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“While we continue to cooperate with investigators, the most important thing to remember is that the mayor has not been accused of any wrongdoing,” Levy wrote.
