Two former New York City Fire Department chiefs, Anthony Saccavino and Brian Cordasco, were arrested on charges of bribery, corruption, and false statements related to soliciting and receiving bribes from 2021 through 2023. They were accused of selling priority access to the Bureau of Fire Prevention’s services, undermining public trust and putting their own greed above the interests of taxpayers. Saccavino’s attorney emphasized his client’s dedication to the FDNY and expressed confidence that the truth will come out in due time.
The federal investigations into corruption in the Mayor Eric Adams’ administration have ensnared high-ranking city officials, with the Mayor’s office and other top deputies under scrutiny. Cordasco had raised internal concerns about an alleged “City Hall List” used to prioritize projects submitted to the Bureau of Fire Prevention. Fire Commissioner Robert Tucker stated that the FDNY would fully cooperate with ongoing investigations.
The broader federal investigations into NYC have also targeted other top officials, including former Police Commissioner Edward Caban and Deputy Mayor for Criminal Justice Philip Banks III. Earlier this year, Mayor Adams’ own electronic devices were seized in connection with an investigation into illegal Turkish funding of his 2021 mayoral campaign. While the recent indictment against the fire chiefs did not mention the Turkish investigation, the ongoing probes have cast a shadow over the current administration and raised concerns about ethics and transparency in city government.
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