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More people ensnared in federal probes depart Adams administration


NEW YORK — Three more aides to Mayor Eric Adams — including two whose homes were raided — are leaving the administration as federal prosecutors investigate him and his inner circle for corruption.

Rana Abbasova, who has been on unpaid leave since federal agents raided her home last fall, has been fired, according to a person with knowledge of the matter. Abbasova worked as the mayor's director of protocol for international affairs and served as his liaison to the Turkish community dating back to his time as Brooklyn borough president.

Abbasova is reportedly cooperating with the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Southern District of New York and matched the description of an aide cited in a five-count criminal indictment against Adams that alleged he took bribes from Turkish interests in exchange for official favors.

Adams' criminal defense attorney, Alex Spiro, has said the government's lead witness against Adams is lying. Adams pleaded not guilty and has maintained his innocence.

Abbasova's lawyer did not immediately return a call for comment.

Winnie Greco, the mayor's liaison to the Chinese American community, has also resigned, said the person, who was granted anonymity to freely discuss sensitive personnel matters.

Greco has long worked with Adams, and, according to detailed reporting from the nonprofit news site THE CITY, wielded enormous influence. Prosecutors have raided her homes, but, unlike Abbasova, her pay continued to climb and was nearly $200,000 as of earlier this year.

Another staffer, Mohammed Bahi, who worked in the city's Community Affairs Unit, is also leaving, the person said. Neither Greco nor Bahi could be immediately reached for comment.

An aide to Adams declined to comment.



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