S
tate investigators have seized the phone of Jesse Hamilton, deputy commissioner of real estate at the Department of Citywide Administrative Services, as part of ongoing investigations into Mayor Eric Adams' administration. The seizure occurred last week at John F. Kennedy International Airport, where Hamilton was returning from vacation in Japan.
Hamilton's role involves overseeing the city's commercial real estate portfolio, and his dealings have raised ethical questions in the past. In 2018, he used a building intended for low-income housing as his campaign headquarters, despite being prohibited from doing so under the terms of a city loan program.
As deputy commissioner, Hamilton coordinates city agencies' real estate needs and arranges leases with private landlords. His rapid rise through the ranks has raised eyebrows, including a $24,000 pay bump in 2022 that sparked criticism.
Hamilton is not the only administration official whose phone has been targeted by investigators. The mayor's chief adviser, Ingrid Lewis-Martin, had her phone seized during the same trip as Hamilton and Cushman & Wakefield broker Diana Boutross, who works closely with Adams on commercial real estate matters.
Prosecutors have indicated that more charges against Adams are possible, and that charges against others in his administration are likely. This development comes after federal corruption charges were brought against the mayor last week.
