Investigators executed search warrants at Donlon's homes on Friday after receiving a tip that he retained classified documents from an investigation he was involved in more than two decades ago. The search was prompted after someone who knew the interim police commissioner still had the documents filed a complaint.
Authorities say the classified materials are not connected to the NYPD.
"On Friday, September 20, federal authorities executed search warrants at my residences. They took materials that came into my possession approximately 20 years ago and are unrelated to my work with the New York City Police Department," the statement said.
"This is not a department matter, and the department will not be commenting," he added.
The statement did not address what the investigation was about, which federal authorities were involved or what materials had been seized.
"As we have repeatedly said, we expect all team members to fully comply with any law enforcement inquiry," said Fabien Levy, the deputy mayor for communications.
NYPD Deputy Commissioner of Public Information Tarik Sheppard talks about the FBI searches on Eyewitness News Mornings @ 10:
NYPD discusses recent federal probes
The raids come just nine days after Donlon, a retired FBI official, was sworn in as NYC's top cop following the resignation of former police commissioner Edward Caban.
Donlon spent decades with the FBI, where he worked on terrorism cases including the investigation into the 1993 bombing of the World Trade Center, the 1998 bombings of U.S. embassies in Kenya and Tanzania and a 2000 attack on a U.S. Navy destroyer.
Roughly 20 years ago he was a top counterterrorism official for the FBI in New York.
From 2009 to 2010, Donlon led New York state's Office of Homeland Security before going into the private sector security industry.
The FBI's search of Donlon's homes also marks the latest search in a series of federal investigations into officials within Mayor Eric Adams' administration.
On Tuesday, Adams sounded exasperated during his weekly Q&A session at City Hall as he fielded the same questions about the ongoing federal investigations.
"We know what you know," he said. "Again, I'm not going back and forth on questions that I am asked or answered over and over again."
Adams believes his accomplishments are being overshadowed, but the fact is, his chief counsel said she could no longer defend Adams, and his police commissioner resigned after subpoenas were served on him, the schools chancellor, two deputy mayors, a top mayoral adviser and a private consultant, among others.
The investigations are broadly focused on the NYPD's nightlife enforcement practices, and influence peddling in awarding city contracts.
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(Some information from the Associated Press)
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