The criminal case against New York City Mayor Eric Adams is in a precarious position following a directive from the Justice Department ordering federal prosecutors to dismiss bribery charges against him. While the directive was issued on Monday by acting Deputy Attorney General Emil Bove, the timeline for the dismissal remains uncertain, and there is speculation about whether Danielle Sassoon, the acting U.S. attorney in Manhattan, might resist the order.
Bove's two-page memo indicated that the charges should be dropped "as soon as is practicable" to enable Adams to support President Donald Trump's policies on immigration and crime. The memo stated that the decision to dismiss the case was based on political considerations rather than an evaluation of the evidence's strength. This guidance aims to allow Adams to focus on campaigning for reelection while aligning with Trump's objectives as a Democrat.
The responsibility of implementing this order now lies with Sassoon, who took the role of acting U.S. attorney shortly after Trump assumed office. Sassoon's office has remained silent on future actions concerning the case. Notably, prosecutors had recently lauded the evidence against Adams, countering the mayor's claims of political persecution.
The Justice Department's unprecedented action leaves Sassoon with limited options; she can be replaced at the discretion of the Justice Department. Furthermore, Trump has nominated Jay Clayton to lead the office, although his appointment is pending Senate confirmation.
In light of these developments, Adams is expected to address the public via video. His attorney, Alex Spiro, expressed that the Justice Department's directive validates the mayor's claims of innocence, suggesting that he and New York can move past this "unfortunate and misguided prosecution."
Bove's memo also raised the possibility of re-filing the charges after the forthcoming mayoral election, placing a conditional caveat on the dismissal of the case. According to Bove, Adams will need to agree in writing that the charges may be reinstated, which will continue to cast a shadow over his interactions with the Trump administration during his tenure.
Former chief of public corruption at the U.S. attorney's office in Manhattan, Arlo Devlin-Brown, noted that the peculiar conditions of the memo create uncertainty regarding when the charges will actually be dismissed. He described the situation as highly unusual, indicating that it is rare for a case, once charged, to be reversed without significant new developments.
The indictment against Adams alleges that he accepted illegal campaign contributions and lavish travel perks exceeding $100,000 while serving as Brooklyn borough president. These perks included luxury travel accommodations and accommodations facilitated by a Turkish official who later sought favors from Adams, including lobbying the Fire Department for expedited openings of diplomatic buildings aligned with a visit from Turkey's president.
Furthermore, prosecutors claim to possess evidence that Adams directed his campaign staff to solicit foreign donations, ultimately disguising these contributions to benefit from a city program designed to match small donations, in violation of federal laws prohibiting foreign national contributions to U.S. election campaigns.
In the wake of the Justice Department's decision, several of Adams' Democratic rivals in the upcoming June primary have criticized the order, arguing that it reflects a pro-Trump stance taken by the mayor out of self-preservation. Following his September indictment, Adams has notably cultivated a relationship with Trump, seeking to align with his agenda while also considering the political implications of his actions.
