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By Gabe Whisnant
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The Justice Department formally requested a court dismissal of corruption charges against New York City Mayor Eric Adams on Friday. The decision, led by Acting Deputy U.S. Attorney General Emil Bove, faced fierce opposition from federal prosecutors in Manhattan, many of whom had originally brought the case.
The filing follows a week of high-profile resignations within the Justice Department, including that of Danielle Sassoon, the interim U.S. attorney in New York, and five senior officials in Washington. At least seven prosecutors chose to quit rather than comply with Bove's directive to drop the case.
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Why It Matters
The case against Adams is politically charged, with prosecutors accusing the mayor of accepting more than $100,000 in illegal campaign contributions and lavish travel perks from foreign nationals while campaigning for mayor. Adams pleaded not guilty to five federal bribery and corruption charges in September of 2024.
What to Know
Bove, who ordered the dismissal, cited Adams' importance to President Donald Trump's immigration enforcement strategy and the proximity of the case to the 2025 mayoral election. Prosecutors in Manhattan and Washington fiercely resisted, leading to at least seven resignations, including Danielle Sassoon, the interim U.S. attorney in Manhattan, and Hagan Scotten, a key prosecutor on the case. The Justice Department's three-page motion seeks to dismiss the case without prejudice, meaning the charges could be revived after the election.
Bove's move to abandon the case came after a meeting in Washington between Adams' lawyers and Justice Department officials, where the mayor's legal team allegedly offered a quid pro quo related to immigration enforcement in exchange for ending the prosecution. Sassoon detailed the meeting in her resignation letter, stating that the Justice Department should not be used as a bargaining tool for political leverage. Adams' lawyer, Alex Spiro, has denied any backroom deal, calling the allegation a "total lie."
Trump has been openly critical of the case against Adams and has even suggested he would consider pardoning the Democratic mayor, fueling speculation that Adams' growing ties with Trump may have influenced the dismissal.
On Friday morning, Adams appeared on Fox & Friends with Tom Homan, Trump's Border Czar, to talk about their plans to collaborate on immigration enforcement. During the discussion, Adams reiterated his support for going after "dangerous people" on the streets of New York City, which he said he's been talking about since 2022.
What People Are Saying
DOJ Chief of Staff Chad Mizelle said in a statement on Friday: "The decision to dismiss the indictment of Eric Adams is yet another indication that this DOJ will return to its core function of prosecuting dangerous criminals, not pursuing politically motivated witch hunts. The fact that those who indicted and prosecuted the case refused to follow a direct command is further proof of the disordered and ulterior motives of the prosecutors. Such individuals have no place at DOJ."
On Friday, Adams denied there was any deal to make the case go away: "I want to be crystal clear with New Yorkers: I never offered — nor did anyone offer on my behalf — any trade of my authority as your mayor for an end to my case. Never," the mayor said in a statement.
In his resignation letter, Scotten wrote: "No system of ordered liberty can allow the Government to use the carrot of dismissing charges, or the stick of threatening to bring them again, to induce an elected official to support its policy objectives."
What Happens Next
With the formal dismissal request now in a judge's hands, the case is far from over, and its long-term political and legal implications remain uncertain.
If the judge rejects the dismissal, the case could continue, putting pressure on Bove and the Justice Department to defend their decision. If the charges are reinstated after the election, as Bove suggested, it could further fuel concerns about political manipulation of the justice system.
Meanwhile, Adams continues to face public scrutiny, particularly as he appears to be strengthening ties with Trump.
Reporting by the Associated Press contributed to this story.
Update: 2/14/25, 6:50 p.m. ET: This article was updated with additional information.
Update: 2/14/25, 7:12 p.m. ET: This article was updated with additional information.
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