(Editor’s note: CNN’s John Miller, Paul P. Murphy, Jeff Winter, and Mark Morales contributed to this report.)
*(CNN) — FBI agents seized the cell phones of New York City Mayor Eric Adams as part of a federal investigation into campaign fundraising, a person familiar with the matter told CNN on Friday.

The agents seized the phones and an iPad earlier this week pursuant to a court-authorized search warrant, the person said.

The seizure is a dramatic escalation of the federal probe into whether foreign money was funneled to his campaign, bringing it directly to the mayor, a Democrat. The investigation is being handled by the FBI and the US Attorney’s office for the Southern District of New York. Adams has not been accused of any wrongdoing so far, but he is the latest politician to come under scrutiny for ties to foreign governments – in his case Turkey.

The seizure came days after the FBI raided the home of Adams’ chief fundraiser as part of the investigation to determine whether the mayor’s 2021 campaign conspired with a Brooklyn-based construction company to funnel foreign money into campaign coffers.

The New York Times first reported the seizure of Adams’ electronic devices. To obtain a search warrant, prosecutors would need to convince a judge that they have probable cause that there is evidence of a crime on the electronic devices.

“As a former member of law enforcement, I expect all members of my staff to follow the law and fully cooperate with any sort of investigation — and I will continue to do exactly that,” the mayor said in a statement to CNN on Friday. “I have nothing to hide.”

The US attorney’s office and the FBI declined to comment.

Adams’ campaign attorney and spokesperson, Boyd Johnson, told CNN the mayor “immediately complied with the FBI’s request and provided them with electronic devices” after the FBI approached Adams following an event Monday night.

“After learning of the federal investigation, it was discovered that an individual had recently acted improperly. In the spirit of transparency and cooperation, this behavior was immediately and proactively reported to investigators,” Johnson said. “The mayor has not been accused of any wrongdoing and continues to cooperate with the investigation,” he added.

Source: NOT Good: FBI Seizes New York City Mayor Eric Adams’ Phones As Part of Federal Investigation into Fundraising | WATCH

The 32-year-old, who is best known for her work as a comedian on Nick Cannon’s “Wild N’ Out” series, took to her Instagram Story on April 10, to relay an important message to trolls that made fun of her body shape.

B. Simone’s statement came after a post that showcased the star backstage getting ready to perform at Barclays Center in New York City.

She said, “The amount of negative comments on my body type is insane on my last post. I keep deleting them, and of course, I’m not going to respond, but I know what my body looks like. I know my a– is little. I know I ain’t got no hips. I know I got a little belly fat.”

The comedian added that although she has “more than enough money” to enhance her features surgically, she opted out because she wanted to “work with” what she has genetically.

Kanye West Seeking “Behavioral” Treatment At “Luxury” Facility, Allegedly

She said, “That is my body and believe me I have more than enough money to change it. I embrace myself. If I don’t like something about myself I change it. Just like I got in the gym for a year and I lost 30 pounds. I can’t grow hips; it just don’t work like that. I can’t grow a bbl a–. It don’t work like that. I’m working with the genetic body that I have, and I love myself.”

B. Simone continued her rant by informing her followers not to tear other people down because it can negatively affect the targeted individual.

The B. Simone Beauty founder explained, “I truly love myself, so it doesn’t hurt me to my core. But there are a lot of people out there that it does hurt. So if you don’t have nothing nice to say don’t tear people down because they don’t look like a f–king build-a-bear b–h. Don’t tear people down because it’s not your cup of tea. Just keep scrolling.”

B. Simone wrapped up the recording by disclosing that she knew what she looked like when she first uploaded the clip and didn’t care because of her love for herself.

While reiterating the importance of being kind to others, she said, “I know what my body looked like when I uploaded that video. I know them hips were nonexistent. I knew that. I know that, but I love myself. But just think about the people that don’t and think about the people it really affects. Just be quiet.”

As B. Simone’s Instagram Story circulated online, many applauded the star for speaking out. In contrast, others expressed how social media, cosmetic surgery and societal beauty standards have negatively impacted the world.

“So many people getting surgery they forget what natural bodies look like & this what drives to folks to get surgery.”

“Everybody’s body is different. Except the ones who get surgery all theirs look the same. Real bodys and real ppl matter. Nobody’s perfect in the real world.”

Source: ‘Plastic Surgery Bodies Got These People Heads Messed Up’: Fans Defend B. Simone After Trolls Poked Fun at Her Body, Comedian Responds

By Audrey J. Bernard

Here’s a history question for New Yorkers. Did you know that the Gracie Mansion Conservancy was established to preserve, maintain, enhance and enliven Gracie Mansion where sitting mayors of New York City and their families have called home since 1942. It is still one of the oldest surviving wood structures in Manhattan and the home for NYC mayors. The first sitting Mayor to call it home was Mayor LaGuardia and his family. Home sweet home.

On Wednesday, June 30, 2021, the stewards of The People’s House presented its 2021 Virtual Gala at Gracie Mansion at 6:00 PM ET which was hosted by Tony Award Nominee Sheryl Lee Ralph. This one-of-a-kind evening – themed “Raising the Curtain: Theater Is Back!” – was a fabulous celebration of Broadway, the heartbeat of New York City. Yes, baby – Broadway is Back and Bigger, Better and more Beautiful than ever!

The 2021 Gracie Mansion Conservancy Gala, hosted by Broadway’s original Deena Jones from Dreamgirls, Tony Award nominee, producer, and AIDS activist, Ms. Sheryl Lee Ralph (in the 40th Anniversary year of Dreamgirls), featured premiere performances and appearances from the upcoming Thoughts of a Colored Man from playwright Keenan Scott II and director Steve H. Broadnax III; the Co-Chair of the American Theatre Wing, Tony Award, Drama Desk Award, three-time Obie Award winner, and three-time Pulitzer Prize finalist, David Henry Hwang; from the upcoming much-anticipated revival of Company, Bobby Conte Thornton; from the Tony Award-winning Best Musical Dear Evan Hansen, Jessica Phillips; and from the brand-new musical Swept Away, having its premiere at Berkeley Rep next year, John Gallagher, Jr.; and Lord Andrew Lloyd Webber, the composer of the longest-running show in Broadway history.

During the jubilant celebration, Tony Award winner Brian Stokes Mitchell was presented the Key to the City for his work as Chairman of The Actors Fund which has raised over $22 million to support over 40,000 out-of-work theater and entertainment professionals during the COVID pandemic. In addition, a silent auction featured artists exhibited in the Gracie Mansion public rooms since 2019 in the shows She Persists: A Century of Women Artists in New York, 1919-2019 and CATALYST: Art and Social Justice. Proceeds of the evening will benefit the Gracie Mansion Conservancy and The Actors Fund.

The 2021 Virtual Gala creative team included Paul McGill, (Director) Harry McFann (Director of Photography), Eliza Anastasio (original music), and Rick Miramontez and Matthew Troillett (Producers). Susan Goulet served as Production

 “Working with the seniors to create this project has been a wonderful experience. Their stories and interests communicate the vibrancy and resilience of Times Square and New York City in general, and I hope that visitors feel this sense of connection to the city, especially after such a difficult year. I am also grateful to Encore Community Services and Times Square Arts, whose knowledge of the district has been instrumental in bringing this public art project to life,” said Christine Wong Yap.  Family Of Keyon Harrold Jr. Not Surprised That ‘SoHo Karen’ Plead Not Guilty To Felony Hate Crimes  Throughout the development of the project, senior New Yorkers have shared moving stories that celebrate their victories, moments of comfort, and happiness they have found throughout the challenges of the past year. Many seniors’ flags commemorate their pets, who have stood by their side during isolation, or recount a difficult time in their life that led them to develop strength and adversity.  

 One of the participants is 79-year-old Marjorie Deborah Conn, who says she is thrilled to have her art exhibited in Times Square. “I fell in love with Manhattan at first sight when I was 18, and my first apartment was half a block from where the flags are, Times Square, and now I have the joy of seeing my flag flying. I am so proud of myself.” Marjorie Deborah Conn’s flag is stamped with cats and dogs because, according to her, it was with whom she shared her life and her most desperate moments. “My dogs and cats rescued me, but I rescued them too. I tend to adopt special needs, battered, and elderly animals. The heart on my flag has lines that represent a heart. However, I wanted the heart to be huge because each animal made my heart grow and with it my capacity to love and have compassion for all living things.”  

 Peter Gallinari, 73 years old, immigrated from Germany  to a neighborhood in Brooklyn when he was eight years old. The neighborhood kids picked on him and beat him up. To survive, he learned English, changed his accent to sound less German and more “Brooklyn,” and made jokes. “Life taught me to be an actor. After retiring from the NYC Sanitation department, I acted in films, television, and Broadway as Peter Linari. On my flag, the Brooklyn Bridge spans the old country to the new world. It is framed by stage curtains representing my acting career. The messages I want to convey are twofold. First, no matter where you start, you can get to New York, and second, it is never too late to try something new.” Christine Wong Yap is the first artist chosen for the organization’s public artist-in-residence program of its kind. This experimental and collaborative model responds to the uniqueness of Times Square and its public art program by pairing socially engaged artists with Times Square’s massive network of businesses, nonprofits, hotels, restaurants, and people.  According to Times Square Arts Director Jean Cooney, through this work with both seniors and stitchers, Christine is forging new intersections of community in Times Square and memorializing the vulnerability, and celebrating the strength that marks this moment in time of our city and its people. “Her collaboration with Encore is modeling the ways in which artists can be powerful navigators of the challenges we are all facing right now and Times Square as a dynamic space for that work.”