U.S. Judge Dismisses Corruption Case Against NYC Mayor, Criticizes Trump
A federal judge in New York City has dismissed corruption charges against Mayor Eric Adams but criticized the Trump administration’s reasoning for ending the case, calling it questionable. Judge Dale Ho deemed the Justice Department’s argument that the charges were a distraction to Mayor Adams’ support for President Trump’s immigration policies as a breach of prosecutorial independence from political influence.
The judge decided to dismiss the case with prejudice, meaning it cannot be brought back in the future, despite the Justice Department’s request for a dismissal without prejudice. Ho expressed concerns that granting the administration’s request for dismissal without prejudice would suggest that Mayor Adams was more loyal to the Trump administration than to his constituents.
In his ruling, the judge stated, “Everything here suggests a deal: dropping the charges in exchange for concessions on immigration policy.” Mayor Adams, who had pleaded not guilty to charges of bribery and illegal campaign contributions, had viewed the case as retaliation for his criticism of rising immigration levels during the Biden administration.
The corruption case has been a contentious issue in the upcoming mayoral election in New York City, where Mayor Adams is seeking a second term amidst low popularity. The Trump administration had supported Adams, with then-acting Deputy Attorney General Emil Bove claiming that the case was hindering Adams’ re-election campaign and impeding efforts to increase deportations, a key objective of the Trump administration.
Critics have raised concerns that the Justice Department’s decision to dismiss the charges could compromise its independence and integrity, turning it into a tool of political agendas. Despite resistance from some senior prosecutors, the case against Mayor Adams was ultimately dropped following directives from the Trump administration.
Mayor Adams’ lawyers had initially agreed to a dismissal without prejudice but later sought a permanent dismissal, citing concerns about a fair trial due to the public disclosure of internal communications related to the case. The joint request for dismissal by Mayor Adams and the Justice Department was deemed unusual by the judge.
Paul Clement, a conservative who served as solicitor general under Republican President George W. Bush, provided an independent perspective on the matter. In a statement dated March 14, Clement, now in private practice, expressed concerns that the possibility of the case being reopened could have a significant impact on Adams. He warned that the looming threat of reindictment could give the impression that a public official’s actions are influenced more by a desire to please federal authorities rather than serving the best interests of the community. A recent poll conducted by Quinnipiac University on March 5 revealed that only one in five New York City voters approved of Adams’ performance, with 56% believing he should step down from his position. Meanwhile, several Democratic candidates, including former New York Governor Andrew Cuomo, are vying to challenge Adams in the upcoming election. (Reporting by Luc Cohen in New York; Editing by Daniel Wallis, Chizu Nomiyama, and Frances Kerry)
