Federal authorities raid Eric Adams’ mayoral residence

NEW YORK — In a stunning show of force, federal agents raided Gracie Mansion, the official mayoral residence, early Thursday morning.

They seized an electronic device from New York City Mayor Eric Adams as part of an investigation into foreign influence and the moderate Democrat's 2021 campaign.

The early-morning visit came just hours after news that Adams had been indicted, and was confirmed by Alex Spiro, a private attorney who has been retained by Adams.

"Federal agents appeared this morning at Gracie Mansion in an effort to create a spectacle (again) and take [Adams'] phone (again)," he said in a statement. "He has not been arrested and looks forward to his day in court."

Adams, in a video released late Wednesday night, suggested federal investigators are deliberately sensationalizing probes into New York City Hall to hobble his credibility. In that vein, Spiro noted Thursday morning the mayor would have voluntarily provided evidence.

"They send a dozen agents to pick up a phone when we would have happily turned it in," he said in a statement.

The FBI typically conducts early-morning raids to obtain evidence that officials believe they could not get through the type of voluntarily surrender described by Spiro.

The investigation is being led by Damian Williams, the U.S. Attorney for the Southern District in New York and is focused at least in part on the mayor's ties to Turkey.

In the wake of Wednesday's news of an indictment, multiple officials including several mayoral rivals called for Adams to resign, something the mayor steadfastly refused to do.