The US Department of Justice has dropped corruption charges against New York City Mayor Eric Adams, following the resignation of the acting Manhattan U.S. attorney who refused to pursue the case.
Mayor Adams was indicted last year on five counts, including bribery and soliciting illegal foreign campaign donations. However, he pleaded not guilty and a new acting U.S. attorney, Matthew Podolsky, has agreed to drop the charges in exchange for Mayor Adams’s cooperation with the Trump administration’s immigration policies.
The decision comes after the former acting Manhattan U.S. attorney, Danielle R. Sassoon, resigned rather than obeying an order from her supervisor to pursue the case. Sassoon claimed that she was ordered to drop the charges in exchange for Mayor Adams’s support of President Trump’s political program, a move she described as “unacceptable.”
The investigation into the allegations against Mayor Adams began before he made public comments criticizing the Biden administration over the migrant crisis. Despite this, Mayor Adams has faced criticism from some Republicans who claim that he was targeted because of his views.
The decision to drop the charges marks a rare exception to the typical protocol for dismissing cases, where it is the responsibility of the U.S. attorney’s office to make such decisions. The unusual circumstances surrounding the case have raised questions about the independence of the Department of Justice and its ability to investigate high-profile politicians without fear or favoritism.
Source: https://www.nytimes.com/2025/02/14/nyregion/eric-adams-drop-charges-sdny.html