Another New York civic service just got tossed by the FBI, the Fire Department this time. Specifically, the Brooklyn headquarters of the FDNY. Two top fire chiefs also had their homes raided. It seems that not only are these two loyal to their controversial commissioner, they were accepting bribes to expedite or set up inspections.
Fire Department HQ raided
On Thursday morning, February 15, the FBI raided the Brooklyn headquarters of the New York Fire Department, along with “the homes of some fire chiefs.” Some meaning two. Specifically, the homes of two top FDNY chiefs “in charge of city safety inspections.”
It’s been in the works for months but the feds are looking for something to grab headlines with, so swooped in now.
The New York Times was quick to report that agents of the Federal Bureau of Instigation can target someone other than traditional Catholics and vocal supporters of Donald Trump.
FBI agents raid two senior FDNY chiefs’ houses and Brooklyn HQ, “initially focused on whether the chiefs had been paid nearly $100,000 each in a scheme to help expedite or arrange inspections.” Unclear whether linked to Eric Adams’s FDNY scandal https://t.co/XuTSDZlEN6
— Market Urbanism (@MarketUrbanism) February 15, 2024
The probe into the Fire Department influence peddling scheme “began last summer,” they relate. The feds were tipped off that the implicated fire chiefs “had been paid $100,000 to expedite or set up inspections.”
Chiefs Brian Cordasco and Anthony Saccavin “have not been charged with wrongdoing.” Yet. Another thing the Times was quick to inform the public is that the fire department raids “did not appear to be in connection to the federal corruption investigation into Mayor Eric Adams campaign funds.”
That’s a separate scandal. The extortion scheme being run by the New York Housing authority is still another story.
Promoted by Kavanagh
Sources say that earlier this year, “investigators were probing whether a retired firefighter had allegedly made the payments.”
While neither of the fire department chiefs have been charged with any crimes the FBI seized their phones. All the drama was at the Brooklyn headquarters.
Staffers were disturbed by bureau agents, who came crashing in to clear and block off the entire fourth floor. That’s where the department keeps all the fire prevention records.
The FBI and New York City investigators raided the FDNY’s Brooklyn headquarters and the homes of some fire chiefs on Thursday morning, sources confirmed.https://t.co/fNsuwbtLYI
The FBI searched the homes of two top FDNY chiefs in charge of city safety inspections. https://t.co/hLLimzb8eW pic.twitter.com/oyjbfa7msN— NYC EMS Watch (@NYCEMSwatch) February 15, 2024
The whole office was “closed off and investigators were in the process of removing records and computers.”
The city’s Department of Investigation was in on the raid. They’re confirming that they had a complaint involving FDNY but wouldn’t comment further.
The whole city is talking about how Cordasco and Saccavino were the ones “promoted by Fire Commissioner Laura Kavanagh last February after she demoted three other chiefs — leading to a mutiny among the top ranks.” Apparently, they used their favored status in the department to expedite backlogged fire safety inspections, for a fee.
