Source – NBC New York

Rana Abbasova, a longtime associate of Eric Adams who prosecutors say coordinated unlawful straw donations and luxury travel upgrades for Mayor Adams and his campaign, has been fired from her position at City Hall, according to a source familiar with the matter.

Abbasova, who worked as a protocol director in the mayor’s office of international affairs, was on leave from her post while she was believed to have been cooperating with Manhattan federal prosecutors as a key witness in their investigation.

The source also said that Winnie Greco, the mayor’s director of Asian affairs, whose home was previously raided by the FBI, resigned from her position on Monday. In addition, Mohamed Bahi, who worked in the mayor’s Community Affairs Unit, also resigned from his position, said the source, who did not explain the reasons for her resignation.

The changes represent the latest cleanliness moves in city government as New York Gov. Kathy Hochul applies pressure to ensure services continue to operate effectively.

“Both Winnie Greco and Mohamed Bahi submitted their resignations today. “We thank them for their service to the city,” a City Hall spokesperson said in a statement to NBC New York.

Greco’s attorney, Steven Brill, confirmed her resignation to NBC New York, saying she left her job of her own accord and was not fired. Brill said it was a sad day for his client and for Asian American New Yorkers as she spent the last 30 years of her life making life better for the community.

News of Abbasova’s firing also came shortly after prosecutors turned over some new evidence to Adams’ defense attorneys. Adams’ defense team said the Justice Department presented evidence Friday that they say could discredit Abbasova.

Defense attorney Alex Spiro told NBC New York that the evidence disclosed was known as “Brady material” – information that favors a defendant’s case and that prosecutors are constitutionally required to disclose – including evidence that could impugn a witness’s credibility.

Citing a protective order issued by the judge, members of the mayor’s team declined to discuss specific details of the evidence they said was sent to Spiro in an email Friday afternoon from Assistant U.S. Attorney Celia Cohen.

But sources close to Adams said the material would further bolster the defense’s argument that Abbasova had initially claimed the mayor knew nothing about crime and had changed her story more than once.

In the days since Mayor Adams was indicted on bribery and fraud charges on Sept. 27, Spiro has tried to shift the prosecution to the defense. He filed a motion to dismiss the case, alleging improper disclosures and accusing the Justice Department of ignoring evidence in its possession that Abbasova had repeatedly lied.

On Sunday, after prosecutors turned over the physical evidence on Brady, Spiro told NBC New York in a statement: “These prosecutors finally, after much delay and deception, admitted that they hid Brady material about the key witnesses in the case, who proves this. “Mayor Adams is innocent.”

A spokesman for the U.S. Attorney’s Office declined to comment. Rachel Maimin, Rana Abbasova’s defense attorney, also declined to comment.

“It is noteworthy that this email exchange occurred and that the government informed Mayor Adams’ attorney of exculpatory evidence,” said Brad Simon, a criminal defense attorney and former federal prosecutor. But Simon added that such disclosure was routine and that portraying it as monumental news was like “typical sensationalism from a defense attorney.”

The Adams team presented no evidence to support Spiro’s claim that prosecutors “admitted to hiding Brady material.”

NBC New York reviewed a redacted email exchange from Oct. 4 that omitted content shared by the prosecution and shows that defense attorney Alex Spiro responded: “Celia – Thank you. Is this the only Brady information law enforcement has about this witness?”

Several legal experts consulted by NBC New York said the mayor’s lawyer’s claim that prosecutors hid evidence was unlikely to be a successful legal strategy because prosecutors disclosed that evidence relatively quickly – a week after indicting the mayor.

“Prosecutors have an obligation to present exculpatory evidence in a timely manner,” said Professor Rebecca Roiphe, a former ADA in Manhattan who teaches professional ethics at New York Law School. “The timing of disclosure in this case appears entirely appropriate and there is no reason to believe that prosecutors have hidden anything.”

MSNBC legal correspondent Lisa Rubin explained that federal prosecutors typically wait until the court issues a protective order that sets limits on who can see and disclose these materials.

“Especially since the judge signed the protective order the day before the prosecution apparently provided the materials, the defense’s complaint that prosecutors hid the ball is unlikely to succeed in court,” Rubin said.

At the start of the investigation, City Hall said it was the Adams administration that reported misconduct by Abbasova to law enforcement after learning that she had asked her colleagues to delete the communications.

Abbasova, a longtime Adams aide who most recently served as the city’s director of international affairs protocol, has not been charged with any crime and is a cooperating witness, according to sources familiar with the matter. According to these sources, Abbasova is the person referred to in the 57-page indictment as an “employee of the mayor.” It says she helped arrange illegal foreign “straw” donations to the Adams campaign for years, as well as luxury travel upgrades and discounts for Adams, family members and associates.

Some legal experts say Spiro’s argument that prosecutors wanted to hide any credibility problems Abbasova may have is undermined by the indictment itself.

It is alleged that Abbasova “arranged a conversation with FBI agents and falsely denied her and Adams’ criminal conduct” before going to the bathroom and deleting encrypted apps used to communicate with Adams.

Prosecutors suspect Abbasova lied when she said the mayor was unaware of the wrongdoing. Spiro insists that Abbasova’s “main lie” is that Eric Adams knew about it.

“In almost all cases there will be evidence that is helpful to the defendant,” Professor Roiphe said. “But the mere fact that a cooperating witness initially lied to investigators does not do too much harm to the prosecution because the jury understands that some witnesses need to be persuaded to tell the truth.”