Federal scrutiny and possible adjustments to the mayor’s security clearance are in the realm of possibility due to his alleged criminal acts and involvement with a foreign government, according to Politico.
“There’s a definite possibility his clearance could be revoked or suspended just given the nature of the allegations and how [federal authorities] go about determining security clearances,” Joseph Maher, a former chief intelligence officer at the Department of Homeland Security, told the outlet.
The DHS is one of the agencies responsible for overseeing security clearances.
Maher said it would be “surprising” if there were no changes made to Adams’s security clearances.
As the mayor of the largest city in the country, Adams likely holds top-secret security clearances that enable him to receive highly sensitive briefings from federal law enforcement agencies. A downgrade in security clearance would mean he would receive fewer details about delicate information from those agencies.
When pressed Tuesday if he held the same security status as before the indictment, Adams declined to give a straightforward response.
“The federal government makes a determination of security clearance, and you have to reach out to them,” the mayor said.
Deputy Mayor for Communications Fabien Levy told the outlet that Adams “continues to be briefed on a variety of issues important to the city,” though he did not specify the level of clearance.
Adams defiantly maintained his innocence in the face of the criminal charges levied against him on Sept. 26. Days later, he tried to dismiss a slice of the case because he alleged it was “extraordinarily vague.”
However, even after Adams pleaded not guilty in a federal court last week, prosecutors have indicated theymight still bring more charges against the embattled mayor.
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Meanwhile, the recent indictment, which was precipitated by a nearly yearlong FBI investigation featuring raids, cellphone confiscations, and subpoenas, has reduced Adams’s inner circle to a shell of its former self, as many of his closest allies in the New York City government have resigned.
The Democratic mayor indicated Wednesday he would be open to accepting even former President Donald Trump’s support as he looks to fight the indictment in court and salvage his political career.
