A senior official at the U.S. Department of Justice has directed federal prosecutors to dismiss charges against New York Mayor Eric Adams, a Democrat known for his close ties to President Donald Trump.
In a two-page memo obtained by The Associated Press, acting Deputy Attorney General Emil Bove, a former prosecutor in the Manhattan office that brought the case, stated that the decision to drop the charges was made without evaluating the strength of the prosecution and was not intended to undermine the attorneys who filed the case.However, Bove noted that the timing of the charges and “more recent actions” by former U.S. Attorney Damian Williams had compromised the integrity of the proceedings. He cited concerns over increased prejudicial pretrial publicity, which he warned could influence potential witnesses and the jury pool.
Mayor of New York City Eric Adams arrives prior to the inauguration of President-elect Donald Trump at the United States Capitol on January 20, 2025, in Washington, DC.
Why It Matters
The move follows months of speculation that Trump’s Justice Department might intervene to end the criminal case against Adams. The criminal case against Adams centers on allegations that he accepted illegal campaign contributions and extravagant travel perks exceeding $100,000. These included luxury hotel stays, costly flight upgrades, and even a visit to a Turkish bathhouse while he was serving as Brooklyn Borough President.
He has denied doing anything illegal and said the criticism of his overseas trips and deeply discounted first-class travel was unfair.
What To Know
Adams traveled to Florida to meet with Trump on January 17. Following the meeting, he stated that they did not discuss his criminal case or the possibility of a pardon but suggested that Trump’s policies would be more beneficial for New York than those of former President Joe Biden.
Following Trump’s inauguration, Adams’ legal team approached senior Justice Department officials, requesting that they step in and drop the case.
Trump had previously suggested the possibility of a pardon, telling reporters in December that Adams had been “treated pretty unfairly.” He also claimed—without evidence—that Adams was being targeted for his criticism of former President Joe Biden’s immigration policies.
The federal prosecutor who filed the charges, former U.S. Attorney Damian Williams, resigned following Trump’s election victory. However, as recently as Jan. 6, prosecutors signaled that their investigation was still ongoing, stating in court filings that they continued to “uncover additional criminal conduct by Adams.”
In December, Adams’ chief adviser and closest confidant, Ingrid Lewis-Martin, was indicted by the Manhattan district attorney on charges that she and her son accepted $100,000 in bribes linked to real estate construction projects.
What People Are Saying
Adams said the day after the meeting with Trump: “I’m looking forward to the next four years of having a president that loves the city like I love this city.”
Trump said in October at a Manhattan event attended by Adams: “I know what it’s like to be persecuted by the DOJ, for speaking out against open borders. We were persecuted, Eric. I was persecuted, and so are you, Eric.”
What Happens Next
The Justice Department’s order mandates that the case be dismissed without prejudice, leaving open the possibility of it being refiled in the future.
The memo marks a significant break from longstanding Justice Department norms—both in its directive to drop a case that prosecutors had already determined to be legally sound and in its reasoning that a high-profile defendant’s official duties could take precedence over facing accountability for alleged crimes.
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