NEW YORK (WABC) — Federal agents arrived at Gracie Mansion around 6 a.m., apparently to serve a summons on New York City Mayor Eric Adams to appear in federal court at a later date.

About a dozen officers, some carrying bags, were seen entering through the East Gate, accompanied by NYPD officers. They spent at least an hour inside the mayor’s residence.

The mayor was served with a summons and his cell phone was confiscated.

Alex Spiro, Mayor Adams’ attorney, released a statement saying:

“Federal agents showed up at Gracie Mansion this morning in an attempt to create a spectacle (again) and take Mayor Adams’ phone (again). He has not been arrested and is looking forward to his day in court.”

“They send a dozen officers to pick up a phone, when we would have happily turned it in.”

An administration official said earlier Thursday that they had not yet been formally notified of any charges and that his legal team was not aware of the sealed indictment filed against the mayor.

The mayor’s attorney released a video statement from the mayor, but it did not confirm that the mayor had been charged.

“I’ve been exposed to these lies for months … and yet the city continues to improve,” Adams said. “Make no mistake. You elected me to lead this city and I will do so.”

The video appears to have been recorded at Gracie Mansion, where the mayor spoke with attorneys and staff late Wednesday night.

He also released a written statement saying, “I always knew that if I took a stand for New Yorkers, I would be a target — and a target I became. If I am charged, I am innocent and I will fight this with all my strength and spirit.”

The federal indictment against Mayor Adams and likely others is expected to be made public later Thursday.

U.S. Attorney Damien Williams is expected to announce details of the charges at a press conference at his office.

The indictment against the mayor is unknown, nor how many other people may be involved in this grand jury indictment. It is believed to be related to the mayor’s 2021 fundraising efforts.

Mayor Adams has no public events planned for Thursday, according to a schedule released early this morning.

Adams is now the first mayor in New York City history to be indicted while still in office. If he were to resign, he would be replaced by the city’s public advocate, Jumaane Williams, who would then schedule a special election.

New York Gov. Kathy Hochul has the power to remove Adams from office. A spokesperson for Hochul said the governor is aware of the “concerning news reports” and is monitoring the situation. He said, “It would be premature to comment further until the matter has been confirmed by law enforcement.”

Adams, the police officer turned politician, and members of his inner circle have faced federal investigations for nearly a year.

His cellphones were seized and in recent weeks the homes of some of his closest confidants have been searched by federal agents working on various corruption investigations.

Two weeks ago, the mayor accepted the resignation of Edward Caban, his hand-picked police chief, after authorities issued a subpoena for his phones.

The mayor’s chief legal officer, Lisa Zornberg, resigned. This week, schools chancellor David Banks announced plans to retire at the end of the year. Banks also turned over his phone to federal authorities.

The phones of Banks’ younger brothers, Philip, the deputy mayor for public safety, and Terence, were also seized. The phone of David Banks’ fiancée, Sheena Wright, the first deputy mayor, was also seized.

WATCH ALSO | Dan Krauth explains the federal investigation

Adams has said that as a former police officer, he has always followed the rules. He has also said that he is not aware of any “wrongdoing” within his administration.

He has repeatedly said he is not aware of any wrongdoing, and has dismissed speculation that he could be charged as “rumours and innuendo”.

The federal investigation into his administration first became public on Nov. 2, 2023, when FBI agents raided the Brooklyn home of Adams’ top fundraiser, Brianna Suggs, in the early morning.

Adams insisted at the time that he was following the law, saying he would be “shocked” if anyone in his campaign were to act illegally. “I can’t tell you how many times I start my day by telling my team that we have to follow the law,” he told reporters at the time.

Days later, FBI agents seized the mayor’s phones and iPad as he left an event in Manhattan. The interaction was made public by the mayor’s attorney several days later.

Other investigations focused on city contracts and the enforcement of regulations for bars and clubs.

Adams was only the second African American to lead the nation’s largest city. He was hailed as the vanguard of a new generation of Democratic leaders who could both support law enforcement and chart a progressive course after a pandemic devastated the city.

He has led the city through a remarkable drop in violent crime after a COVID-era surge that left business owners and residents complaining that New York was sliding back into the bad old days of the 1980s.

According to sources, Adams is not expected to appear in court until next week.

ABC News and the Associated Press contributed to this report.

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