A federal judge has permanently dismissed a case against New York City Mayor Eric Adams, which had alleged he accepted over $100,000 in gifts from Turkish citizens in exchange for favors. The indictment, issued last September, raised serious questions about Adams’ conduct while in office.
In February, acting deputy attorney general Emil Bove, appointed by former President Trump, ordered local prosecutors to drop the case. He claimed that continuing the prosecution limited Adams’ ability to tackle important issues like illegal immigration and violent crime. This decision sparked backlash within the Justice Department, leading to the resignation of Manhattan’s top federal prosecutor, Danielle Sassoon, and six other senior officials. They argued there was no legal basis for dismissing the case and accused Adams’ team of attempting to negotiate a quid pro quo for the dismissal.
U.S. District Judge Dale Ho ruled against the Justice Department’s reasoning, stating he found no evidence that the indictment hindered Adams’ ability to enforce immigration policies. He expressed concern that dismissing the case could give the impression that the mayor’s political freedom depended on complying with federal demands. Judge Ho emphasized that the dismissal should prevent the federal government from using the indictment as leverage over Adams or the city.
The Justice Department defended its decision, labeling the case a misuse of resources and a political maneuver. A spokesperson stated that their focus is now on combating terrorism and ensuring public safety.
Following the dismissal, Mayor Adams insisted that the indictment should never have been filed and maintained his innocence. He also confirmed his intention to run for re-election in the upcoming June primary, despite trailing in the polls behind several Democratic challengers. Adams expressed confidence in his campaign, stating, "And you know what, I’m gonna win."