Justice Department Orders Prosecutors To Drop Corruption Case Against NYC Mayor Eric Adams After He Cozies Up To Trump

The U.S. Department of Justice issued a memorandum on Monday on behalf of Acting Deputy Attorney General Emil Bove, ordering the U.S. Attorney’s office in Manhattan to dismiss the pending case against New York City Mayor Eric Adams.

“You are directed, as authorized by the Attorney General, to dismiss the pending charges,” Bove wrote in a memo directed to the U.S. attorney for the Southern District of New York, Danielle Sassoon. He noted that the DOJ “reached this conclusion without assessing the strength of the evidence or the legal theories on which the case is based” and “in no way calls into question the integrity and efforts” of the prosecutors involved.

Adams was indicted in September 2024 on federal bribery, fraud and campaign finance charges. At the time of the indictment, Adams vowed not to resign and is currently up for reelection. Bove wrote that the Southern District of New York could reconsider the charges against Adams after the November 2025 New York City mayoral election. 

Adams confirmed the order in a press briefing on Tuesday morning. The two-page memo states that the case was “restricting” the mayor’s ability to aid President Donald Trump’s immigration policies.

“The pending prosecution has unduly restricted Mayor Adams’ ability to devote full attention and resources to the illegal immigration and violent crime that escalated under the policies of the prior Administration,” the memo reads.

“The Department of Justice has reevaluated this case and determined it should not go forward. There is good reason for that. The facts of the case are clear: the mayor never used his official position for personal benefit. Nor did he have any role in violating campaign finance laws,” said Adams’ attorney Alex Spiro.

Upending the case does not clear Adams of the charges, but sets his duties as mayor above accountability for alleged acts. The decision to drop the charges will still need to be formally submitted by prosecutors and approved by the judge overseeing the case. 

The dismissal would be without prejudice and reviewed when a U.S. Attorney is confirmed.

The decision is highly unusual given the typical independent operations of federal prosecutors.

Adams has become close with Trump in recent months, meeting with Trump in Florida before he took office and attending his inauguration in Washington.

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Article by Angie Schlager