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There’s a sprawling corruption scandal unfolding in New York City as we speak — and near the center of the action, against all odds, there’s a tasty cup of “that Me Espresso.”
On Tuesday, federal prosecutors indicted New York City Mayor Eric Adams, alleging that the former police captain had accepted illegal campaign contributions and plane trips from the Turkish government between 2016 and 2021, leading up to and during his mayoral run.
Adams is alleged to have accepted in excess of $123,000 worth of undisclosed travel benefits alone, CNBC reported, and upwards of $10 million in improper campaign contributions, violating multiple campaign finance laws. He has also been charged with wire fraud, bribery, and other counts in the sweeping indictment.
But then things got even juicier. Investigators also subpoenaed Our Lady of Mount Carmel-Annunciation Parish last week, specifically targeting its pastor Jamie Gigantiello — also known as “Monsignor Jamie” on his cooking show (and accompanying cookbook), “Breaking Bread.” Gigantiello is being investigated for his ties to Adams’ former chief of staff Frank Carone, who stepped down in 2022 amid scrutiny over his business dealings and suspiciously jet-setting lifestyle.
As the New York Post reported on Monday, the parish subpoena was issued in part due to another Gigantiello scandal: Sabrina Carpenter’s “Feather” music video.
Back in October 2023, Carpenter released the “Feather” video to abject horror from the Diocese of Brooklyn. With Gigantiello’s blessing, Carpenter had filmed parts of the video in the Annunciation church itself, decorating the altar with pastel fabrics, bedazzled crosses, and a set of coffins, one bearing the slogan “RIP Bitch.” The Diocese at the time said it was “appalled” by the video and the decision to allow Carpenter to film in the church, demoting Gigantiello from his vicar position in the diocese but allowing him to keep his job as pastor. Brooklyn Bishop Robert Brennan later reconsecrated the site entirely, because apparently, Sabrina Carpenter’s little black tulle dress opened a portal straight to Hell. (We don’t see what the big deal was — the crucifix in the opening was positioned sideways, not upside down!)
Representatives for the diocese told the Post this week that the subpoena targeting Gigantiello and Carone was linked to the church’s own investigation into Gigantiello over the “Feather” video. Sources declined to comment further, saying the review “is still ongoing,” but stated that the church is “fully committed to cooperating with law enforcement in all investigations, including conduct at individual parishes or involving any priest.” That could be bad news for Gigantiello, Adams, and Carone, all three of whom were seen dining together in a photograph obtained by the Post. Adams and his allies have denied any wrongdoing; former Brooklyn Democratic Party boss Frank Seddio, a former parishioner of Gigantiello, claimed the indictment was only filed “to embarrass” Adams in a statement to Politico.
It’s wild to imagine that Eric Adams’ long-awaited downfall may have been delivered in part by the carefully manicured hands of Sabrina Carpenter — but given the wide net investigators have thrown, something like this may have been inevitable. Earlier this month, NYPD commissioner Edward Caban resigned from his post not long after investigators seized his cell phone; interim commissioner Thomas Donlon’s house was also raided on Tuesday, seizing documents Donlon claimed were 20 years old and “unrelated” to his position with the NYPD.
Multiple LGBTQ+ lawmakers in New York have called on Adams to resign in light of his indictment. Queens Council Member Tiffany Cabán, co-chair of the borough council’s LGBTQ+ caucus, said Adams is “unable to effectively lead and govern” in a statement posted to social media on Wednesday. Brooklyn Councilmember Chi Ossé also told Adams to relinquish his position in a video posted to X, formerly Twitter, this week.
“Eric Adams needs to resign as mayor of New York City,” Ossé said, walking through an NYC subway station. “This city of nine million people needs someone steering the ship, and now it’s clear it cannot be corrupt cop Eric Adams.”
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