Justice Department Orders Corruption Charges Against New York Mayor Eric Adams to Be Dropped

[Georgealbert]

New York City Mayor Eric Adams speaks during a press conference at City Hall, Wednesday, Feb. 5, 2025, in New York. A top official at the U.S. Department of Justice has ordered federal prosecutors to drop charges against New York Mayor Eric Adams and halt the ongoing investigation. (AP Photo/Yuki Iwamura)

 

The U.S. Justice Department has ordered federal prosecutors to drop corruption charges against New York City Mayor Eric Adams, citing concerns that the case was interfering with his ability to support President Donald Trump’s crackdown on illegal immigration.

 

In a rare intervention, acting Deputy Attorney General Emil Bove issued a two-page memo directing prosecutors in New York to “dismiss” the bribery charges against Adams immediately. The memo stated that the order was not based on the strength of evidence but on the timing of the prosecution, which Bove argued was distracting the mayor from his duties.

 

“The pending prosecution has unduly restricted Mayor Adams’ ability to devote full attention and resources to the illegal immigration and violent crime,” Bove wrote.

 

The Justice Department’s decision has sparked outrage among legal experts and political figures, who say it marks a significant departure from long-standing norms. Public officials, including President Trump himself during his first term, have been investigated without claims that their duties should shield them from legal scrutiny.

 

A spokesperson for the U.S. Attorney’s Office in the Southern District of New York declined to comment on the order. The case against Adams was brought under former U.S. Attorney Damien Williams, who stepped down before Trump returned to the presidency.

 

Critics argue that the Justice Department’s intervention raises serious concerns about political interference in the legal process. The memo also instructed prosecutors not to take any further investigative steps against Adams until after the November mayoral election, though it left open the possibility of refiling charges at a later date.

 

The bribery case against Adams stemmed from allegations that he accepted illegal campaign contributions and luxury travel perks worth over $100,000 while serving as Brooklyn Borough President. Prosecutors claimed that a Turkish official who facilitated the trips later sought political favours, including asking Adams to lobby the New York Fire Department to approve a 36-story diplomatic building for Turkey’s president.

 

Adams, a Democrat who campaigned on a centrist platform, has shifted noticeably to the right following his indictment, which has led to speculation that he sought leniency from the Trump administration.

 

Previously an advocate for protecting undocumented migrants, Adams has since softened his stance, suggesting that Trump’s policies may be better for New York than those of former President Joe Biden. He has also pledged to roll back the city’s “sanctuary” policies, aligning himself more closely with the Trump administration’s law-and-order agenda.

 

Several of Adams’ Democratic rivals in the upcoming mayoral primary have accused him of striking a political deal to secure the Justice Department’s intervention.

 

“Instead of standing up for New Yorkers, Adams is standing up for precisely one person,” said Brad Lander, the city’s comptroller and a mayoral challenger.

 

State Assemblymember Zohran Mamdani called for an investigation into whether Adams had “cut any kind of deal with the Trump administration that involves breaking city law.”

 

The mayor’s lawyer, Alex Spiro, welcomed the Justice Department’s decision, stating: “Now, thankfully, the mayor and New York can put this unfortunate and misguided prosecution behind them.”

 

Trump has previously suggested that Adams was being unfairly targeted for criticising Biden’s immigration policies. In December, the former president hinted at a possible pardon for Adams, telling reporters: “He’s been treated pretty unfairly.”

 

Trump has often drawn parallels between his own legal troubles and those of Adams, saying in October: “I know what it’s like to be persecuted by the DOJ for speaking out against open borders. We were persecuted, Eric. I was persecuted, and so are you, Eric.”

 

Despite the Justice Department’s order to drop the case, prosecutors had recently stated that their investigation into Adams was ongoing. In January, court filings suggested that investigators were still uncovering additional evidence of criminal conduct.

 

New York City mayor Eric Adams departs Manhattan federal court after an appearance, Friday, Sept. 27, 2024, in New York. (AP Photo/Yuki Iwamura, File)

 

Federal agents had also been probing other senior officials in Adams’ administration. Prior to his indictment, authorities seized phones from a police commissioner, the schools chancellor, multiple deputy mayors, and the mayor’s director of Asian affairs—all of whom have since resigned.

 

In December, Adams’ chief adviser, Ingrid Lewis-Martin, was indicted on state corruption charges related to real estate bribery.

 

The Justice Department’s decision to halt the prosecution of a sitting mayor so close to an election is highly unusual and raises concerns about the politicisation of law enforcement.

 

Legal analysts warn that allowing a high-ranking official to evade prosecution due to political convenience could set a dangerous precedent. Whether the charges will be reinstated after the election remains to be seen, but the controversy is unlikely to fade anytime soon.

 

Based on an article from AP 11.02.2025.

 

-- 2025-02-12