NEW YORK — On Monday, the Trump Administration directed federal prosecutors to drop corruption charges against New York City Mayor Eric Adams. This unprecedented decision cited the case’s interference with the mayor’s ability to support the President’s efforts against illegal immigration.
A two-page memo from Acting Deputy Attorney General Emil Bove, obtained by the Associated Press, instructed New York prosecutors to immediately dismiss the bribery charges against Adams.
Bove stated the order wasn’t based on the case’s merit, but on its proximity to Adams’ reelection campaign and its distraction from his administration-related duties.
“The pending prosecution has unduly restricted Mayor Adams’ ability to devote full attention and resources to the illegal immigration and violent crime,” Bove wrote.
This intervention, prioritizing a powerful defendant’s official duties over accountability for alleged crimes, significantly deviates from established Justice Department practices, which typically grant independence to federal prosecutors.
High-ranking government officials, including Trump during his presidency, routinely face Justice Department investigations without similar claims of exemption from prosecution to focus on their governmental roles.
This action follows months of speculation about the Trump Justice Department’s potential intervention in Adams’ case, which involved allegations of bribery through free or discounted travel and illegal campaign contributions from foreign nationals.
After , he altered his stance on Trump, surprising some within his party due to his public support for the Republican President and his strict immigration policies. The memo followed Adams’ directive to his officials to avoid publicly criticizing Trump, including his immigration policies.
Adams’ attorney, Alex Spiro, declared the Justice Department’s order vindicated the mayor’s innocence. “Now, thankfully, the mayor and New York can put this unfortunate and misguided prosecution behind them.”
A spokesperson for the Southern District of New York prosecutors, Nicholas Biase, declined to comment on the order to drop the charges.
Trump hinted at a possible pardon in December, stating that the mayor had been “treated pretty unfairly.” He also alleged, without evidence, that Adams was being targeted for criticizing former President Biden’s immigration policies.
Following Trump’s inauguration, Adams’ lawyers approached senior Justice Department officials, requesting the case’s dismissal.
Adams subsequently met with Trump in Florida on January 17th. Afterward, he stated they hadn’t discussed his criminal case or pardons, but suggested Trump’s agenda would benefit New York more than Biden’s.
Trump, convicted last year of falsifying business records to conceal a hush money payment, previously expressed support for Adams.
“I know what it’s like to be persecuted by the DOJ, for speaking out against open borders,” Trump said in October at a Manhattan event attended by Adams. “We were persecuted, Eric. I was persecuted, and so are you, Eric.”
The case against Adams alleges he accepted over $100,000 in illegal campaign contributions and lavish travel perks—including flight upgrades, luxury hotel stays, and a bathhouse trip—during his time as Brooklyn Borough president.
The indictment states a Turkish official who facilitated these trips then sought favors from Adams, including lobbying the Fire Department to expedite the opening of a new diplomatic building for a Turkish presidential visit.
Prosecutors also presented evidence of Adams directing campaign staff to solicit foreign donations, then concealing them to qualify for a city program offering matching funds for small donations. Federal law prohibits foreign contributions to U.S. elections.
Damien Williams, the former U.S. attorney in Manhattan, resigned after Trump’s election. However, as recently as January 6th, prosecutors indicated their investigation was ongoing, stating in court documents that they continued to “uncover additional criminal conduct by Adams.”
The task of dismissing the case falls to acting U.S. attorney for Manhattan, Danielle Sassoon, who assumed the role after Trump’s inauguration. Her position was temporary; Trump nominated Jay Clayton for the permanent role in November, pending Senate confirmation.
Federal agents also investigated other senior Adams aides. Before the mayor’s indictment, authorities seized phones from a police commissioner, schools chancellor, multiple deputy mayors, and the mayor’s director of Asian Affairs. These officials denied wrongdoing but have since resigned.
In December, Adams’ chief advisor, Ingrid Lewis-Martin, faced indictment by the Manhattan district attorney on bribery charges related to real estate projects, involving $100,000 in alleged bribes accepted by her and her son.
—Durkin Richer and Tucker contributed from Washington.
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