Judge Ho’s Dismissal of Charges Against Eric Adams Allows Him to Continue His Duties and Pursue Reelection

Judge Dale Ho made a commendable decision in permanently dismissing corruption charges against Mayor Eric Adams.

The mayor has undoubtedly experienced a significant personal morale hit from this situation; he even revealed that he’d stopped following the news to manage his stress.

Now, he can focus on city affairs and fully engage in his reelection campaign—without any shadows looming over him.

About time, indeed.

The case clearly warranted dismissal: As noted by the Justice Department, it was rife with “impropriety” from Biden’s prosecutors, who charged Adams only after he criticized their immigration policies.

The case also “improperly interfered” with Adams’ reelection efforts and hindered his ability to perform his duties effectively.

Moreover, the intentions of the Trump prosecutors to retain the option to refile charges left room for constant speculation, forcing Adams to be wary of the political atmosphere whenever the president spoke.

Furthermore, the change in administration cannot erase the original political stain.

Thus, Ho appropriately followed the advice of outside adviser Paul Clement and chose to dismiss the case entirely.

That said, if the case was intended as a political attack, it certainly achieved its goal.

It has inflicted significant harm to Adams, damaging his reputation and prompting former Gov. Andrew Cuomo to reenter the race despite previously stating he wouldn’t challenge the mayor.

Not only has he refrained from campaigning, but he hasn’t robustly contested the Campaign Finance Board’s decision to deny public matching funds for his campaign.

Furthermore, Ho’s slow pace has been detrimental: It has been two months since the prosecution requested the case be dropped, and a month since Clement recommended its complete dismissal.

At this juncture, Adams’ best chance for reelection may lie in running as an independent. Petitions for the Democratic primary ballot are due Thursday, the day after Ho’s ruling; he faces a challenging financial environment with little funding to combat Cuomo and other competitors—and as he has noted before, he didn’t leave his party; it left him.

In the meantime, he must work diligently to rebuild public trust just to fulfill his role.

Some of his challenges are self-inflicted; the NYPD has encountered several scandals on his watch, many involving those he appointed.

Nonetheless, Adams’ decision to appoint Jessica Tisch as police commissioner represents a significant step toward rectifying the issues.

Tisch is already making notable progress against crime: Murders in the first quarter of this year have dropped 35% compared to 2024. Shootings are down by 23%.

Adams needs to maintain this momentum:

• Recruit qualified professionals, not unqualified friends, for critical positions.

• Firmly oppose progressive efforts to shield violent undocumented immigrants.

• With the border closed and hotels clearing out of migrants, prioritize boosting businesses, ensuring fiscal responsibility, enhancing education, and addressing street chaos.

If Adams aims to lead the city effectively, much less secure re-election, he must demonstrate the focused energy that originally brought him to office.

Moreover, it might be time to start reading the newspapers again, sir . . . at least the one that truly matters.