NEW YORK — On Wednesday, a legal representative for Mayor Eric Adams of New York City expressed optimism that the criminal charges against the mayor have been effectively resolved. This assertion comes despite indications from a Justice Department official who noted that the possibility remains for the case to be revived next fall.
Attorney Alex Spiro informed reporters, “There is no imminent risk. This matter is closed, and it will not be revisited.” He emphasized, “Despite the numerous dramatic assertions made, ultimately no evidence has shown that he violated any laws at any point.”
However, while Spiro portrayed the situation as a conclusive triumph over what he termed an “ill-advised prosecution,” the status of the Justice Department’s actions, communicated in a two-page memorandum on Monday, reveals a more nuanced scenario.
Currently, the formal charges against Adams still stand. Acting Deputy Attorney General Emil Bove instructed the interim U.S. attorney for Manhattan, Danielle Sassoon, to dismiss these charges “as soon as is practicable.” A representative from her office refrained from providing comments, and no new developments have emerged in the case since the memo became public knowledge two days ago.
In his memo, Bove explained that the decision to suspend the case was made without evaluating the evidence’s robustness against Adams. Instead, the decision aimed to allow him to concentrate on executing priorities established by the prior Trump administration relating to immigration and crime policies.
The potential dismissal of the charges is also linked to Adams’ agreement that the case could be revisited in November, post the mayoral election, according to Bove.
These unusual stipulations have stirred skepticism among several Democrats, along with substantial backlash from Adams’ challengers in the Democratic primary. They argue that Adams has likely committed to upholding the Trump administration’s stringent immigration policies as a trade-off for not facing prosecution.
When addressing reporters in his office, Spiro denied that Adams had made any such commitments but conceded that discussions about immigration and other policy matters were part of a prior meeting between the mayor’s legal team and Justice Department representatives before the decision to curtail the case.
“The operation of governance, including the mayor’s capacity to manage national security matters, terrorism threats, immigration issues, and other considerations, certainly emerged in conversation,” Spiro remarked.
Spiro noted that Adams has yet to sign any documents related to the proposed dismissal.
While he recognized the possibility of re-filing the charges if they were dismissed based on the memo’s conditions, he argued that any fair examination of the evidence should lead prosecutors to determine that the mayor hasn’t committed any wrongdoing.
In September, Adams entered a plea of not guilty to allegations of accepting roughly $100,000 worth of complimentary or significantly reduced travel accommodations, dining, and entertainment in return for unlawful campaign contributions from Turkish officials and business representatives.
Prosecutors also claim that he directed campaign staff to solicit donations from foreign nationals, which is prohibited under federal law. These funds were allegedly disguised to enable Adams to qualify for a city program that offers a substantial, publicly funded match for small donations.
His trial is slated to commence in April.
Prior to this week, the prosecutors in New York who had brought the case believed they possessed a robust argument, asserting that further evidence of misconduct by Adams had emerged during their investigation.
However, their capacity to counter the Justice Department’s directive is limited. The U.S. attorney general retains the authority to appoint or replace U.S. attorneys at will, meaning that any individual opposing directives from the national level may risk removal from their position.
