Adams Refutes Claims of Agreement with DOJ to Dismiss Corruption Case

“I want to be absolutely clear to New Yorkers: I never offered—nor did anyone offer on my behalf—any exchange of my authority as mayor for the resolution of my case. Never,” Adams declared in a statement. “I am solely accountable to the 8.3 million New Yorkers that I represent and will always prioritize this city.”

Adams responded to claims in Sassoon’s resignation letter, where Sassoon, who stepped down after refusing Acting Deputy Attorney General Emil Bove’s request to dismiss the corruption case against Adams, asserted that during a meeting on January 31, Adams’s attorneys allegedly pushed for a quid pro quo arrangement in which the mayor’s support for the Trump administration’s illegal immigration policies would depend on the dismissal of the indictment.

Adams was indicted in October 2024 for allegedly receiving over $100,000 in campaign donations and luxury gifts from foreign nationals in return for political favors. He has denied these allegations, which include bribery, wire fraud, conspiracy, and falsification of financial records.

Following Sassoon’s resignation, the DOJ formally sought to dismiss the charges on February 14, but did so without prejudice, allowing for the possibility that charges might be refiled later.

Several other DOJ officials resigned in protest instead of adhering to Bove’s directive to drop the corruption case against Adams.

Bove, known for representing President Donald Trump in various legal matters and a former employee at the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of New York, directed on February 10 that federal prosecutors in Manhattan dismiss the charges against Adams. He cited prosecutorial misconduct as a concern and noted the case’s potential negative impact on Adams’s governance and collaboration with federal immigration enforcement.

In a letter accepting Sassoon’s resignation, Bove labeled the case against Adams as politically motivated, claiming that it received increased scrutiny after Mayor Adams criticized President Biden’s immigration policies.

On February 13, Adams announced his decision to permit federal immigration agents to operate at Rikers Island jail, aiding the Trump administration in detaining and deporting illegal immigrants with violent criminal histories. This change followed a private meeting with Tom Homan, who is leading Trump’s crackdown on illegal immigration. The announcement marked a significant shift in New York City’s sanctuary policies, which have hindered immigration enforcement.

Homan appeared on “Fox & Friends” alongside Adams on February 14 and praised Adams for granting federal access to Rikers, labeling the move a “game changer.” He revealed that he and Adams are collaborating on additional initiatives, though he held back on specifics to avoid interference from the city council.