News

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.

Subscribe to our free weekly newsletter!

A week of political news in your in-box.
We find the news you need to know, so you don't have to.

“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.

Angie Schlager

Recent Posts

VIDEO: Veterans March Against Trump In Minnesota

https://www.youtube.com/shorts/Ng5OC-49f6o A crowd containing many veterans protested against the policies of President Donald Trump in Edina, Minnesota,…

20 hours ago

VIDEO: Elon Musk’s Tesla Bot Attacked With Liquid Latex By Protesters In London: ‘Nazi Robot’

https://youtu.be/cwEtGdI-6TQ Two environmental activists poured orange liquid latex over Elon Musk’s Tesla Optimus robot at…

21 hours ago

Trump Administration’s Foreign Aid Funding Freeze Creates Confusion

Staff working on foreign aid projects affected by the Trump administration's funding freeze have been…

22 hours ago

After Department Of Education Lays Off 50% Of Workforce, Secretary Linda McMahon Vows More Upheaval

The U.S. Department of Education announced it had initiated mass layoffs this week, cutting down…

23 hours ago

Elon Musk Wants To Privatize Post Service & Amtrak: ‘We Should Privatize Anything We Reasonably Can’

During a virtual appearance at a Morgan Stanley technology conference on Wednesday, Elon Musk criticized…

2 days ago

VIDEO: Veteran Escorted Out Of GOP Rep. Chuck Edwards’ Town Hall For Protesting Trump’s Budget Cuts For Vets

https://youtu.be/8Ps9DIuo8Pg A man who identified himself as a veteran was escorted out Republican Rep. Chuck…

2 days ago