NEW YORK — Federal agents raided the headquarters of the NYPD Sergeants Benevolent Association and the Long Island home of its leader Tuesday morning, authorities said.
FBI spokesperson Martin Feely said agents were “carrying out a law enforcement action in connection with an ongoing investigation.”
Several FBI agents exited the SBA offices on Worth Street in Lower Manhattan holding boxes filled with undisclosed objects. As they made their way to their field offices at 26 Federal Plaza, the agents refused to answer any questions about the raid or another search conducted at the Long Island home of union leader Ed Mullins.
Mullins is the president of the union, which represents 13,000 active and retired NYPD sergeants.
He has frequently clashed with city officials, including Mayor Bill de Blasio and state Rep. Ritchie Torres, over his incendiary tweets and hard-line tactics.
When asked for comment on the raid during de Blasio’s daily briefing, the mayor called Mullins “divisive” and confirmed the search was part of an ongoing FBI investigation, but declined to say much more.
“I don’t know the specifics and I don’t know who it’s directed at,” de Blasio said. “We’ve seen some very destructive actions from the SBA.”
Mullins, who is also a police sergeant, is in the middle of department disciplinary proceedings for tweeting NYPD paperwork last year pertaining to the arrest of de Blasio’s daughter during protests over the Minneapolis police killing of George Floyd.
Mullins’ department trial began last month but was postponed indefinitely after one of his lawyers suffered a medical emergency.
Mullins’ lawyer denies he violated department guidelines, arguing paperwork with Chiara de Blasio’s personal identifying information, such as her date of birth and address, was already posted online.
Mullins also sued the department, claiming they were trying to muzzle him by grilling him and recommending disciplinary action over his online missives.
Under Mullins’ nearly two decades of leadership, the union has fought for better pay — with contracts resulting in pay increases of 40% — and staked a prominent position in the anti-reform movement.
A spokesperson for the SBA referred PIX11’s request for comment to Mullins’ attorney, who did not immediately respond.
