Adams fundraiser in FBI raid is 25-year-old recent grad with meteoric rise in NYC Democratic politics
The fundraiser whose Brooklyn home was raided as part of a federal probe into possible illegal contributions to Mayor Eric Adams’ campaign is a 25-year-old recent grad on a meteoric rise in New York City’s Democratic politics.
Brianna Suggs — who graduated from Brooklyn College with a bachelor of science in biology in 2020 — has close ties to the mayor’s inner circle, including to Ingrid Lewis-Martin, the so-called Lioness of City Hall who acts as Adams’ chief adviser and gatekeeper.
One source even described her as Lewis-Martin’s political “goddaughter.”
Suggs has been touted as a key campaign consultant and fundraiser for Adams — but sources said the young operative’s lack of experience raised eyebrows during the 2021 mayoral race, with some attributing her apparently elevated status to her political connections.
“It was pretty clear she was there because of who she knew,” another source said, adding Suggs’ position was part of the “incestuous” Brooklyn political clubhouse.
“The guy was running for mayor, so you’d think he would have some marquee fundraiser,” the source added.
Suggs was brought on as an intern at Brooklyn Borough Hall in 2017 when Adams was borough president and Lewis-Martin was his deputy.
She was elevated to the post of special liaison the following year and worked on women’s health for the next three years, according to her LinkedIn.
The young political consultant then moved on to Adams’ 2021 mayoral campaign, where she boasted of raising $18.4 million. His campaign spent a total of $18.5 million, according to campaign records.
She made more than $150,000 from the 2021 mayoral campaign and Adams’ 2025 re-election campaign, records show.
“She’s a close person [to Adams and Lewis-Martin] who might not be qualified for the job, that was the vibe,” the second source said.
“In the early days of Eric’s campaign, as things got more serious, they brought on some other folks,” the source said. “It was sorta odd some people would raise money through her and others with other folks. To have two people was weird and a little bit redundant.”
On Thursday, Suggs’ Crown Heights home was raided by the FBI, with federal agents spotted hauling boxes out through the morning.
No one was arrested, but Suggs was issued a subpoena to testify in front of a federal grand jury, according to the New York Times.
The shocking news came as Adams trekked down to Washington, DC, for a meeting with the White House on the migrant crisis but immediately turned around once he was informed of the raid — which City Hall confirmed was connected to a federal probe looking into his campaign.
“The mayor heard of an issue related to the campaign, and takes these issues seriously, so wanted to get back to New York as quickly as possible,” deputy mayor for communications Fabien Levy told The Post.
“He plans to return to DC and reschedule these meetings as soon as he can.”
Adams later vowed to “fully participate” in any campaign probe in his first public remarks since news of the raid broke.
“I hold my campaign to the highest ethical standards,” Hizzoner said at an unrelated Día de los Muertos event at Gracie Mansion on Thursday night.
“Any inquiry that is done, we’re going to fully participate and make sure that it’s done correctly,” he said, adding, “I have not been contacted by anyone from any law enforcement agency, and that’s why I came back from the DC to be here, to be on the ground and look at this inquiry as it was made.”
The mayor also claimed he had not spoken to Suggs “at all” when questioned by The Post at the Gracie Mansion celebration.
In 2021, Suggs also started her own lobbying firm, Brianna Suggs & Associates Inc., which only attracted one client, a real estate group seeking to take over a city-owned mall in Manhattan’s Chinatown, record show.
Good-government groups have called out potential conflicts of interest over Suggs working both as a mayoral fundraiser and a lobbyist for real estate clients that have business before the city.
A spokesperson for Suggs, Jordan Barowitz, previously defended her dual roles, which some campaign finance experts said did not violate any city laws
Suggs also took on fundraising for the Kings County Democratic County Committee, according to her LinkedIn.
She also raised money for Hercules Reid for New York state Assembly and Miguelina Camilo for state Senate.
One law enforcement source said she was often spotted by Adams’ side during the 2021 mayoral race.
“If you wanted to get close to Adams, you had to go through her — give her your information,” the sources said.
Multiple attempts to reach Suggs were unsuccessful Thursday.
Additional reporting by Nolan Hicks and Larry Celona
With Post wires
