The Acting U.S. Deputy Attorney General, Emil Bove, has issued a directive to federal prosecutors in New York to dismiss corruption charges against New York City Mayor Eric Adams, as disclosed by a senior Justice Department official on Monday evening. The order entails the complete dismissal of all charges against Adams, with the stipulation that the dismissal is without prejudice, indicating that the charges could potentially be refiled at a later date. At present, the charges have yet to be officially dropped, with federal prosecutors in New York refraining from immediate comment on the matter. For the charges to be dismissed, a motion would need to be presented by prosecutors in the Southern District of New York, where the charges were originally filed, and subsequently reviewed by a judge.
Eric Adams, a former New York Police Department captain who assumed office as mayor in 2021, had been indicted in September on charges including bribery, fraud, and other offenses. The indictment alleged that Adams had received approximately $100,000 worth of complimentary plane tickets and lavish hotel accommodations from affluent Turkish nationals and at least one government official as part of an alleged corruption scheme spanning nearly a decade. Adams has consistently maintained his innocence, pleading not guilty to the charges while asserting that they are politically motivated, vowing to vigorously contest the allegations.
According to the senior Justice Department official, the charges against Adams will undergo reassessment following the confirmation of a U.S. attorney appointed by the Trump administration. Damian Williams, the U.S. attorney for the Southern District of New York who initiated the legal action against Adams, resigned from his position after President Trump secured re-election in 2024. In late January, an attorney representing Adams reportedly reached out to the Justice Department leadership, expressing a desire for the criminal case against the mayor to be dropped as per NBC News.
