The unraveling of Eric Adams' administration

The biggest city in the country is in the midst of a major political scandal, and things appear to be unraveling in New York Mayor Eric Adam's administration.

There are federal investigations, top level resignations, and scandals reaching back into his 2021 mayoral campaign.

Adams's inner circle has come under intense scrutiny in recent months, although the mayor himself has denied any knowledge of wrongdoing, and so far has not been accused of anything.

Just last week, NYPD Commissioner Eric Caban stepped down a week after federal authorities seized his cellphone in an ongoing investigation. Days later, Lisa Zornberg, the chief counsel and legal advisor to the mayor also submitted her resignation. That was followed by the resignation of Kristen Kaufman, the deputy commissioner of public private partnerships and economic development this week.

In a recent press conference this week, Adams sought to take focus off his administration.

"I'm focused on protecting the people of this city and the investigations will take care of themselves," Adams said. "And that is not where my time is going to be consumed; of answering the same questions over and over again. We know what you know."

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Getting context.

So when did Adams' problems begin? According to Gothamist and WNYC reporter Elizabeth Kim, – sometime late last year.

"This goes back to November when federal agents raided several individuals, most notably Adams' top fundraiser," Kim told NPR.

She added that it wasn't unusual for there to be investigations into a mayor's fundraising, and that