The interim New York Police Department (NYPD) commissioner, Thomas Donlon, was raided by the FBI late last week, just after his predecessor, former Commissioner Edward Caban, was hit with a similar raid that led to his ultimate resignation from his post. The news is the latest incident involving various officials close to New York City Mayor Eric Adams who have been involved in criminal investigations.
According to reports, the FBI was investigating Donlon to determine whether he took classified information while working for the FBI and the Department of Homeland Security. The interim commissioner previously served as the FBI’s National Threat Assessment Center and the FBI-NYPD Joint Terrorism Task Force. Furthermore, Donlon was the director of New York’s Office of Homeland Security.
Donlon released a statement last week addressing the FBI raid. “On Friday, September 20, federal authorities executed search warrants at my residences,” the statement, shared by the NYPD News account read. “They took materials that came into my possession approximately 20 years ago and are unrelated to my work with the New York City Police Department.” Donlon added, “This is not a department matter, and the department will not be commenting.”
Following Caban’s sudden resignation from his position as commissioner, Donlon was appointed by Mayor Adams to fill the role. Reportedly, Caban was implicated in an investigation into a nightclub security business owned by his twin brother. The probe, which also involves other officials within the police department, seeks to determine whether Caban used his position improperly to benefit the business.
“My complete focus has always been on the NYPD – the department and people I love and have dedicated over 30 years of service to,” according to a statement from Caban. “However, the news around recent developments has created a distraction for our department, and I am unwilling to let my attention be on anything other than our important work, or the safety of the men and women of the NYPD.”
“My goals are clear: continue the historic progress decreasing crime and removing illegal guns from our communities, uphold the highest standards of integrity and transparency, and support our dedicated officers who put their lives on the line every day to keep us safe,” Donlon said in a statement after Mayor Adams tapped him to step in as the interim commissioner.
Last year, Eric Adams faced a similar controversy where the FBI seized the mayor’s phones amid an investigation into his campaign fundraising. According to reports, the FBI seized cell phones and an iPad amid a probe led by the FBI and the US attorney’s office for the Southern District of New York into whether foreign money was funneled into his mayoral campaign.
However, Adams maintained his innocence, stating that he had nothing to hide from investigators. “As a former member of law enforcement, I expect all members of my staff to follow the law and fully cooperate with any sort of investigation — and I will continue to do exactly that. I have nothing to hide,” the mayor of New York City said in a statement to CNN.
Watch Mayor Adams beg citizens to stop claiming crime is up in NYC:
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