In a federal court hearing on Wednesday, a top Justice Department official seeking to dismiss corruption charges against embattled New York City Mayor Eric Adams was questioned by U.S. District Court Judge Dale E. Ho. The move has resulted in the resignation of eight prosecutors.
The 90-minute hearing did not lead to a decision, as Judge Ho instructed both parties to be prepared to discuss the reasons for or against dismissing the case. Acting U.S. Deputy Attorney General Emil Bove expressed concerns that pursuing the case could interfere with national security and immigration matters, stating that the case was an abuse of prosecutorial discretion.
Adams’ lawyer, Alex Spiro, denied any suggestions of a quid pro quo deal with the Trump White House, emphasizing that there was no agreement for Adams to deliver on immigration issues in exchange for dropping the charges. Adams confirmed his understanding of the terms of the agreement, including the possibility of future indictment, and maintained his innocence.
During the hearing, Judge Ho questioned the legal basis for the government’s motion to dismiss the case. Bove argued that the indictment had impacted Adams’ security clearance and prevented him from discussing important issues with the U.S. Attorney’s Office. When asked about similar instances involving national security concerns, Bove stated he was not aware of any other cases involving elected officials.
Prior to the hearing, protesters gathered outside the court chanting slogans calling for Adams to step down. The indictment against Adams includes charges of bribery, fraud, and soliciting illegal foreign campaign donations. Adams, a Democrat seeking re-election, has faced mounting pressure to resign, particularly after federal prosecutors were ordered to set aside the case due to its timing close to the mayoral primary.
The clash among government lawyers following the dismissal order led to the resignation of several prosecutors, including interim U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York Danielle Sassoon. Sassoon alleged that Adams had tampered with evidence and offered a quid pro quo to assist in Trump’s immigration agenda in exchange for dropping the charges.
“Rebuttals on immigration and additional policy matters were met with dismissal of a criminal indictment,” she penned. Adams’ attorney, Spiro, retorted that the notion of a quid pro quo was completely false. “We offered nothing, and the department made no requests of us,” he stated in a released statement. Governor of New York, Kathy Hochul, suggested the potential removal of Adams following the resignation of four of his top deputies on Monday due to efforts to drop his corruption case in exchange for cooperation on Trump’s mass deportation agenda. Hochul highlighted that the power of removal has never been exercised against a sitting mayor in the state’s history and that “overturning the will of the voters is a serious step that should not be taken lightly.” “That being said, the reported conduct at City Hall over the past two weeks is concerning and cannot be overlooked,” she commented in an official statement.
As a Democrat, Hochul convened on Tuesday to discuss “the way forward” with City Council Speaker Adrienne Adams, who has called for the mayor’s resignation; Reverend Al Sharpton; and City Comptroller Brad Lander, who is also a mayoral candidate. She also engaged in discussions with Representative Gregory Meeks, Queens Borough President Donovan Richards, and approximately a dozen pastors, business leaders, and union representatives. Sharpton, leader of the National Action Network and an MSNBC host, mentioned post-meeting with Hochul that there was no decision on the course of action yet, and they intended to await the outcome of Wednesday’s hearing. “My sense is that the trust of the city’s people has been shaken and resolution is necessary, but we must also uphold the law and avoid setting a precedent that could have future repercussions,” Sharpton expressed.
Among the New York Democrats urging Adams to step down are Representatives Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and Nydia Velázquez, as well as Lieutenant Governor Antonio Delgado. Adams has pleaded not guilty to allegations of accepting over $100,000 in complimentary plane tickets and luxurious hotel accommodations from affluent Turkish individuals and at least one government official. Adams has asserted that the corruption accusations are politically motivated. Bove, the Department of Justice’s deputy, mentioned that Adams’ case would be reassessed by a newly appointed U.S. attorney by Trump post the mayoral elections in November. Over 850 former federal prosecutors have endorsed a letter of support for the current federal prosecutors after last week’s resignations. In the letter, the former prosecutors expressed concerns as they witnessed fundamental values of a fair and just legal system being tested in the preceding week.
