Justice Department Directs Dismissal of Charges Against NYC Mayor Eric Adams
The case will be dismissed without prejudice, indicating it can be refiled in the future.
Acting Deputy Attorney General Emil Bove has instructed federal prosecutors to drop the charges against New York City Mayor Eric Adams, who was accused of accepting unlawful campaign contributions and extravagant travel benefits.
Bove noted that these developments have compromised the integrity of the judicial process, especially by creating prejudicial pretrial publicity that could affect witnesses and the jury pool.
Moreover, the memo highlights how these actions and the case itself have unduly impacted Adams’s campaign for the 2025 mayoral election, hindering his capacity to address illegal immigration and violent crime.
Bove also mentioned that the choice to dismiss the charges was made without evaluating the prosecution’s strength and does not reflect on the abilities of the attorneys who initiated the case.
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A critical condition for the dismissal of charges against Adams is that Sassoon, who has succeeded Williams as the U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York, must evaluate all pertinent factors in the case, including the evidence and the strength of the legal arguments presented.
“There should be no further targeting of Mayor Adams or additional investigative measures before that review, and you are additionally instructed to take all steps necessary to restore Mayor Adams’ security clearances,” Bove stated.
The case is set to be dismissed without prejudice, allowing for the possibility of refiling in the future.
Williams did not respond to a request for comment by the time of publication.
Adams’s attorney, Alex Spiro, praised the Justice Department’s decision, calling it a confirmation of the mayor’s innocence. “Now, fortunately, the mayor and New York can move past this unfortunate and misguided prosecution,” Spiro remarked.
This development comes after months of conjecture that the Justice Department would step in to halt the criminal case against Adams amid corruption allegations. In December 2024, Trump hinted at a potential pardon, stating to reporters that the mayor had been “treated pretty unfairly.” The president also asserted that Adams faced persecution from his own party due to his critiques of former President Joe Biden’s immigration policies.
The allegations included accepting costly flights, hotel accommodations, and various gifts in exchange for political favors directed at Turkish officials and other foreign interests. Adams was also accused of creating false financial records and advising associates on how to conceal illegal activities. He has consistently denied any misconduct.
The counts against Adams included conspiracy, wire fraud, bribery, and accepting foreign campaign contributions, each bearing substantial potential penalties, such as fines and imprisonment. A guilty verdict would also prevent him from holding any public office in the future.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
