Politics Reporter

Chris Sommerfeldt

Chris Sommerfeldt is a reporter covering City Hall and all things NYC politics for the Daily News. Prior, Chris covered the Trump and Biden administrations, Congress and national politics. He began working for the Daily News in 2015 as a general assignment reporter. His superpower is biking everywhere, no matter the distance or the weather.

Mayor Eric Adams’ Director of Asian Affairs, Winnie Greco

Adams aide Winnie Greco, ensnared in a federal probe, met often with Chinese government operatives

January 5, 2025 at 10:15 a.m.

The meetings are taking on renewed significance as the federal investigation that prompted the February 2024 raids continues and is at least in part scrutinizing Greco's ties to China's government,...

Adams appointed Vijah Ramjattan, a mental health expert and faith leader, to replace Naveed Hassan, who was fired April 18 - a termination that touched off a legal claim against the mayor that remains pending.

Adams taps new anti-hate crime chief, replacing fired predecessor

January 10, 2025 at 4:59 p.m.

Adams appointed Vijah Ramjattan, a mental health expert and faith leader, to replace Naveed Hassan, who was fired April 18 - a termination that touched off a legal claim against...

Search warrants were also executed in "other locations" as the NYPD officially suspended Maddrey, NYPD Commissioner Jessica Tisch said.

Crime and Public Safety |
Disgraced former NYPD Chief Jeffrey Maddrey home raided by feds and Internal Affairs

January 2, 2025 at 8:25 p.m.

Search warrants were also executed in "other locations" as the NYPD officially suspended Maddrey, NYPD Commissioner Jessica Tisch said.

With much uncertainty on the horizon, some in Adams' inner circle say the City Hall staff purges have marked a step in the right direction.

Politics |
NYC Mayor Adams enters pivotal political year with many of his closest allies gone from City Hall

December 29, 2024 at 7:00 a.m.

With much uncertainty on the horizon, some in Adams' inner circle say the City Hall staff purges have marked a step in the right direction.

Mayor Adams is cracking down on excessive overtime spending after NYPD Lt. Quathisha Epps (right) accused Chief of Department Jeffrey Maddrey (left) of demanding sex for overtime approvals.

Crime and Public Safety |
Mayor Adams clamps down on overtime fraud for city uniform services following NYPD sex-for-OT scandal

December 27, 2024 at 1:46 p.m.

In an internal directive, Adams ordered the first deputy mayor, his chief of staff, deputy mayor for public safety, and his Office of Management and Budget to oversee overtime spending...

The decision to return the donations comes as the trust is facing a cash crunch, with its latest public disclosure putting it in the red.

NYC Mayor Adams’ legal defense returned 7 of 8 contributions from James Dolan family business

December 26, 2024 at 10:11 a.m.

The decision to return the donations comes as the trust is facing a cash crunch, with its latest public disclosure putting it in the red.

The Grand Central-42nd St. subway station in Manhattan, New York. (Shutterstock)

Crime and Public Safety |
NYC attacker slashes man, woman in Grand Central Station unprovoked knife attacks

December 25, 2024 at 3:29 p.m.

Police recovered a knife from inside the station where a 42-year-old man and 26-year-old woman were slashed on Christmas Eve.

The filing from Alex Spiro, Adams' lead defense attorney, identified the witness by initials. The initials were redacted from the filing.

New York Politics |
NYC Mayor Adams lawyer reveals ‘recent’ witness grand jury testimony in corruption case

December 24, 2024 at 12:39 p.m.

The filing from Alex Spiro, Adams' lead defense attorney, identified the witness by initials. The initials were redacted from the filing.

Erden Arkan, owner of KSK Construction (main image) has indicated he will plead guilty. Arkan is identified as "Businessman-5" in the federal indictment of Mayor Eric Adams (inset).

Politics |
Accused co-conspirator in NYC Mayor Adams’ federal corruption case to plead guilty

December 23, 2024 at 3:32 p.m.

Erden Arkan, who was identified in Mayor Adams' corruption indictment as playing a central role in funneling thousands of dollars in illegal straw donations to Adams’ 2021 campaign on behalf...

Lewis-Martin's pressure, the indictment says, was part of a years-long scheme, in which she harnessed her government influence to help the hotel's investors, Raizada "Pinky" Vaid and Mayank Dwivedi, secure DOB permits in exchange for bribes for her and her adult son, Glenn Martin II.

NYC hotel at center of Ingrid Lewis-Martin bribery indictment won permits after she stepped in

December 21, 2024 at 12:52 p.m.

Lewis-Martin's pressure, the indictment says, was part of a years-long scheme, in which she harnessed her government influence to help the hotel's investors, Raizada "Pinky" Vaid and Mayank Dwivedi, secure...

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