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DOJ Moves to Dismiss Corruption Case Against NYC Mayor Eric Adams

By James Seidel | CC News Network

NEW YORK — The U.S. Department of Justice is moving to dismiss federal corruption charges against New York City Mayor Eric Adams, according to a memo obtained by CC News Network. The decision comes months after Adams’ historic indictment, marking the first time a sitting New York City mayor faced federal prosecution in modern history.

The memo, authored by acting Deputy Attorney General Emil Bove, directs the acting U.S. attorney for the Southern District of New York to dismiss the charges “as soon as practicable”, contingent on a post-election review following the November mayoral race.

The move, however, raises questions about political influence in one of the nation’s most independent federal prosecutor’s offices and follows months of speculation about a potential pardon from President Donald Trump. However, it is worth noting, that the President is over the Executive Branch, which includes the DOJ, for which the SDNY reports to.

Justice Department Cites Political Concerns in Dismissal

The DOJ memo outlines two primary reasons for dropping the case:
✔ Concerns over media bias tainting the legal process
✔ Impediments to Adams’ ability to perform his duties as mayor

“The pending prosecution has unduly restricted Mayor Adams’ ability to devote full attention and resources to the illegal immigration and violent crime that escalated under the policies of the prior administration,” Bove wrote.

The memo makes no mention of a potential presidential pardon for Adams but does note that the decision is not based on the strength of the evidence or legal theories behind the case.

Political Fallout and Trump’s Influence

The decision to drop the charges comes after Adams distanced himself from the Democratic Party, declining to endorse Vice President Kamala Harris in the presidential race and warming up to President Trump.

Rumors of Adams seeking a pardon intensified after he attended a private dinner at Trump’s Mar-a-Lago resort last month. I’d like to attend a dinner at Mar-a-Lago. President Trump, may I join you for dinner?

Trump, who has frequently criticized federal prosecutors, previously suggested that Adams’ legal troubles were politically motivated. We know the feeling.

“We were persecuted, Eric. I was persecuted, and so are you,” Trump said to Adams during an October speech at the Al Smith charity dinner in New York.

Adams, a former registered Republican, was having dinner Monday night with billionaire Trump supporter John Catsimatidis when he received the news that the case was being dismissed.

“He felt relieved, relieved. He was taken aback,” Catsimatidis told CNN.

Southern District Prosecutors Pushed Back Against Dismissal

The decision to withdraw the case marks a significant turnaround for the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of New York (SDNY), which only weeks ago asserted that it had uncovered “additional criminal conduct” by Adams.

Acting U.S. Attorney Danielle Sassoon, who is overseeing the case, had previously defended the prosecution, calling Adams’ legal team’s claims of political bias a distraction from the evidence of his guilt.

Sassoon’s future remains uncertain as Trump has signaled plans to replace her with former SEC Chairman Jay Clayton.

The SDNY has declined to comment on the DOJ’s decision.

Adams’ Legal Battle: A Timeline of Corruption Allegations

Adams, who is up for re-election this fall, was indicted in September on charges of:

Bribery
Wire fraud
Conspiracy
Soliciting campaign contributions from foreign nationals in exchange for political favors

The indictment alleged that Adams engaged in illegal activity dating back to 2014, when he was Brooklyn Borough President.

Federal prosecutors accused Adams of:

Accepting luxury travel perks (including hotel upgrades and meals) from a Turkish official
Pressuring a New York City Fire Department official to grant permits to a Turkish consular building that had failed safety inspections

Then-U.S. Attorney Damian Williams, who led the indictment, described Adams’ actions as “a long-running conspiracy”.

Adams has denied all wrongdoing, dismissing the charges as politically motivated and driven by his criticism of the Biden administration’s immigration policies.

“It cannot be ignored that Mayor Adams criticized the prior administration’s immigration policies before the charges were filed,” Bove wrote in the DOJ memo.

Impact on the Mayoral Race and City Politics

The decision to dismiss the case could dramatically reshape the race for New York City mayor.

📌 Adams faces a crowded field of challengers in the upcoming Democratic primary, with several progressive candidates gaining traction in recent months.
📌 City lawmakers have intensified their criticism of Adams, citing his slow response to Trump’s executive order cutting off federal funds to sanctuary cities like New York.
📌 The trial was originally set for this spring, just months before the primary election, and could have been a political death blow to Adams’ re-election bid.

Now, with the case dismissed, Adams may emerge politically stronger—or facing renewed scrutiny over whether political pressure played a role in the DOJ’s decision.

🚨 CC News Network will continue to follow developments in this unfolding case. Stay tuned for the latest updates.