The New York Police Department (NYPD) is in the midst of another upheaval, this time involving the FBI’s raid on its newly appointed interim commissioner, Thomas Donlon. Just days after stepping into the role following the sudden resignation of former Commissioner Edward Caban, Donlon’s home was searched by federal authorities, sending shockwaves through the city’s already embattled leadership.
Donlon, in a statement, confirmed that the FBI executed search warrants at his residences on September 20, but was quick to distance the investigation from his current position with the NYPD. He claimed the materials seized dated back 20 years and had no connection to his work with the department.
“This is not a department matter, and the department will not be commenting,” Donlon added, though the FBI’s interest reportedly stems from his previous roles with the FBI and Department of Homeland Security (DHS). During his time at the FBI, Donlon led both the National Threat Assessment Center and the FBI-NYPD Joint Terrorism Task Force. At DHS, he served as the director of New York’s Office of Homeland Security.
The timing couldn’t be worse for the NYPD, which is already dealing with the fallout from Caban’s sudden exit. Caban resigned just over a week ago amid a federal criminal investigation that allegedly involves his connection to a nightclub security business owned by his twin brother, James Caban.
Investigators are probing whether Edward Caban improperly leveraged his role as police commissioner to “fix potential problems” for nightclubs and bars. The Southern District of New York, which is spearheading the investigation, is known for targeting government corruption cases, and the IRS is also involved in the probe.
Statement from the Police Commissioner: pic.twitter.com/K0talEghOc
— NYPD NEWS (@NYPDnews) September 22, 2024
Caban’s resignation statement emphasized that he did not want the investigation to be a distraction for the department, but in truth, it already has. His departure came swiftly after federal agents seized his phone, raising serious questions about the depth of the investigation and how far it may reach within the department. What’s clear is that the feds are not only focusing on Caban; they’re looking at a web of officials, and that includes some of Mayor Eric Adams’ closest allies.
Mayor Adams himself isn’t immune to controversy. He is under criminal investigation over potential corruption involving the Turkish government, and his administration has been rocked by a string of federal probes. High-profile individuals in Adams’ orbit, including Deputy Mayor for Public Safety Philip Banks and First Deputy Mayor Sheena Wright, have had their homes searched by the FBI, and phones belonging to Caban, along with senior adviser Timothy Pearson, were seized as part of the same investigation.
This pattern of federal scrutiny has been building. Earlier this year, the FBI raided the home of Adams’ director of Asian Affairs, Winnie Greco, in connection with a separate probe led by the Eastern District of New York. Other figures close to Adams have also faced legal troubles, including former buildings commissioner Eric Ulrich, who is embroiled in bribery charges, and several donors linked to a straw-donor scheme for Adams’ campaign.
