Federal judge dismisses corruption charges against NYC Mayor Eric Adams

A federal judge officially dismissed the criminal charges against New York City Mayor Eric Adams, following a directive from the Trump administration to abandon the corruption case.

The decision to dismiss the case has led to the resignation of Manhattan’s top federal prosecutor, who alleged that Adams made a deal with the Trump administration to have the charges dropped in exchange for support on immigration enforcement.

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US District Judge Dale Ho dismissed the case "with prejudice," meaning the Department of Justice (DOJ) is barred from refiling charges based on the same evidence. Adams faced serious allegations, including conspiracy, fraud, soliciting illegal campaign contributions, and bribery, all of which he has denied.

Adams was indicted last September for allegedly accepting gifts exceeding USD 100,000 from Turkish nationals in exchange for favors. However, in February, acting Deputy Attorney General Emil Bove, appointed by Trump, ordered New York prosecutors to drop the case, arguing it hindered the mayor's ability to tackle illegal immigration and violent crime—key priorities of the Trump administration.

In response to this directive, Manhattan's top federal prosecutor, Danielle Sassoon, and six other senior Justice Department officials resigned, citing insufficient legal grounds for dismissing Adams' case. In her resignation letter to Attorney General Pam Bondi, Sassoon claimed that Adams’ team had essentially offered a "quid pro quo," indicating that the mayor would support administration policies only if the indictment were dropped.

In his detailed 78-page ruling, Judge Ho expressed doubt regarding the DOJ’s justification for the dismissal, stating, "Everything here smacks of a bargain: dismissal of the indictment in exchange for immigration policy concessions." He underscored that the dismissal protects the mayor and the city from potential leverage by the administration.

"Dismissing the case without prejudice would create the unavoidable perception that the mayor's freedom depends on his ability to carry out the immigration enforcement priorities of the administration," he noted.

Judge Ho recognized that some might find his ruling unsatisfactory and questioned why the court did not simply deny the motion to dismiss. However, he maintained that the court cannot force the DOJ to continue a prosecution if it chooses to withdraw the case.

A spokesperson for the DOJ described the case as "an example of political weaponization and a waste of resources," emphasizing that the department is focused on prosecuting terrorists and returning to its core mission of protecting Americans.

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After the case dismissal, Mayor Adams addressed reporters, stating that the charges "should have never been brought" and reaffirming his innocence. The ruling comes just months before the New York City mayoral primary on June 24, where polls suggest Adams is trailing behind several Democratic contenders.

Despite this, he confirmed his intention to seek re-election, declaring, "And you know what, I'm gonna win."