The top federal prosecutor in Manhattan has resigned following a controversial directive to drop a corruption case against New York City Mayor Eric Adams. Danielle Sassoon, who was appointed by former President Donald Trump, made headlines after she refused to comply with an order from acting deputy attorney general Emil Bove to dismiss the case, which alleges that Adams accepted over $100,000 in gifts from Turkish nationals in exchange for favors.
Sassoon’s resignation is part of a broader shakeup within the Justice Department, as at least two other senior officials also stepped down in light of the decision to halt the prosecution. In her resignation, Sassoon expressed concern that dropping the case would set a dangerous precedent, stating that she believed the allegations against Adams were serious and warranted further investigation.
The case against Adams was initiated by prosecutors appointed during President Joe Biden’s administration. However, Bove, a Trump appointee, argued that continuing the prosecution would hinder the mayor’s ability to tackle urgent issues such as illegal immigration and violent crime—key components of Trump’s agenda. Notably, Bove’s directive did not address the specifics of the corruption allegations but indicated that the Justice Department might revisit the charges after the upcoming mayoral election in November.
Sassoon articulated her reasoning for resisting the dismissal in a letter to Attorney General Pam Bondi, asserting that there was no legitimate basis for dropping the case and expressing her belief in Adams’ culpability. She also alleged that during a meeting with Bove and Adams’ legal team, the mayor’s representatives suggested a quid pro quo arrangement, proposing that Adams would assist with administration policies if the indictment were dismissed. This claim was firmly denied by Adams’ attorney, Alex Spiro, who characterized the notion of a deal as unfounded.
In a response to Sassoon’s refusal to drop the case, Bove accused her of pursuing a politically motivated prosecution, which led to the decision to place other prosecutors involved in the case on leave pending an internal investigation. Following Sassoon’s resignation, reports emerged that three additional prosecutors from the corruption unit also chose to resign.
Sassoon, who has been with the Manhattan federal prosecutor’s office since 2016, was previously involved in high-profile cases, including the prosecution of FTX founder Sam Bankman-Fried. Her departure raises questions about the integrity of the Justice Department’s operations and the influence of political considerations in prosecutorial decisions.
As the situation unfolds, Mayor Adams, a Democrat, has indicated a willingness to collaborate with the Trump administration on immigration issues, including a recent agreement to allow federal immigration officials to re-establish an office at Rikers Island. Adams met with Trump shortly before his inauguration and has maintained that he did not discuss his legal challenges with the former president. Meanwhile, Trump himself stated that he did not request the dismissal of the case against Adams, despite Bove’s assertion that the directive was in line with the policies of a duly elected president.
Adams faces serious allegations, including wire fraud and bribery, stemming from claims that he accepted lavish gifts from foreign nationals while serving as Brooklyn’s borough president. He has pleaded not guilty and continues to deny any wrongdoing. As the legal and political ramifications of this case develop, it remains to be seen how it will impact Adams’ administration and the upcoming election.