In a remarkable courtroom confrontation, a federal judge pressed the Justice Department on Wednesday regarding its request to dismiss the corruption case against New York City Mayor Eric Adams. The judge put a top official on the stand and called Adams himself to testify, raising concerns about whether the support from the Trump administration came with certain conditions attached.
Adams responded firmly, asserting his innocence as he faced significant implications for his freedom and political career. Meanwhile, Manhattan federal Judge Dale E. Ho did not deliver an immediate verdict, leaving open the charges against Adams, who stands accused of receiving extravagant travel benefits and illicit campaign donations from international entities aimed at influencing his decisions. Adams has maintained his not guilty plea and insists he has done nothing wrong.
The push from the Justice Department to terminate the case has created discord among its leadership in Washington, who view Adams as a key ally in advancing President Trump’s immigration policies. This contrasts with the federal prosecutors in Manhattan who initiated the case and have resisted pressure to dismiss it, leading to the resignation of seven prosecutors in protest. During the courtroom proceedings, which lasted around 80 minutes, Judge Ho expressed the need for careful consideration of this “unusual situation,” recognizing the political ramifications, including Adams’ upcoming reelection campaign and the scheduled trial on April 21, indicating he would make a ruling promptly to avoid prolonged uncertainty.
While no one present argued against the Justice Department’s motion, some individuals have submitted letters to the court expressing their opposition. Ho referenced these communications, mentioning that former prosecutors had recently urged officials to keep the case active. The judge scheduled the hearing after Acting Deputy U.S. Attorney General Emil Bove and two other Justice Department attorneys filed a motion last Friday to dismiss the case against Adams, with Bove stepping in after the top prosecutor in Manhattan resigned rather than comply with the request.
Governor Kathy Hochul is closely monitoring the situation and has indicated that she is considering the possibility of removing Adams from office, citing concerns over how his dependence on the Trump administration to resolve his legal issues may have left him politically vulnerable.
Adams appeared more upbeat than in previous court appearances, warmly greeting the Black clergy who were present. At the prosecution table, Bove clarified to Judge Ho that the Justice Department was merely exercising “prosecutorial discretion” under a Trump executive order. He argued that granting the dismissal was the only suitable option, stating that the decision was made without evaluating the case’s evidence.
Adams’ attorney, Alex Spiro, countered that no appellate court has ever sided with a judge who refused an unopposed motion to dismiss a criminal case. Additionally, when pressed by Ho, Bove acknowledged that he was unaware of any previous instance where the Justice Department sought to dismiss charges against a public official in a similar context.
Bove repeated points from the dismissal motion and a contentious February memorandum, asserting that the charges hindered Adams’ governance, limited his reelection campaign efforts, and obstructed his cooperation with immigration policy initiatives. He declared that the mayor’s presence at the hearing was part of the issue, suggesting it prevented him from effectively managing the city and campaigning.
Bove urged the judge to disregard any external influences and reject notions of a reciprocal agreement between the Justice Department and Adams. Under oath, Adams stated that no “other agreement” existed with the government, reinforcing his non-involvement in any corrupt dealings.
While discussing a clause in the dismissal request that would allow the Justice Department to reinstate the case in the future, Adams affirmed his position: “I have not committed a crime, and I don’t see them bringing it back.” Adams was indicted in September, accused of accepting over $100,000 in unlawful campaign donations and travel perks from foreign officials while serving as Brooklyn’s borough president. He is set to face multiple rivals in the Democratic primary scheduled for June.
Bove instructed then-interim U.S. Attorney Danielle Sassoon to withdraw from the case after consulting with Adams’ attorneys in Washington last month. Sassoon, who participated in these discussions, later wrote to U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi, urging her to reconsider the dismissal request. In her letter, she conveyed that dropping the charges in exchange for Adams’ assistance on immigration would constitute a breach of Bondi’s previous commitment to uphold the integrity of the criminal justice process.
Sassoon described this potential dismissal as a quid pro quo and indicated her office was on the verge of bringing further charges against Adams. Meanwhile, another prosecutor, Hagan Scotten, criticized Bove in a resignation letter, stating it would take a “fool” or a “coward” to meet Bove’s demands, insisting he would not be one of them.
Defending their stance, Bondi’s chief of staff, Chad Mizelle, engaged in a social media defense of the dismissal request prior to Wednesday’s hearing, describing the case against Mayor Adams as a reflection of past errors in judgment by the Justice Department. Sassoon and her colleagues have garnered support from numerous former prosecutors advocating for the judge to reject the dismissal motion and consider appointing a special counsel to scrutinize the legal complexities surrounding the case.
