NEW YORK — The chief federal prosecutor in Manhattan resigned Thursday after rejecting a directive from the Justice Department to drop corruption charges against New York City Mayor Eric Adams. In her resignation letter, Danielle Sassoon expressed her confidence in the accusations against Adams, which include allegations of accepting illegal campaign contributions and benefiting from bribes of discounted travel in exchange for influence. Sassoon indicated that prosecutors were ready to pursue additional charges against the mayor, including the destruction of evidence and providing false statements to the FBI.
Sassoon’s resignation was announced in a staff email, which was confirmed by a spokesperson from her office. Following her refusal to dismiss the case, the Justice Department’s public integrity section in Washington was assigned to take over the prosecution, prompting two senior officials from that unit, including the acting chief, to resign in protest. This series of resignations followed orders from high-ranking officials in the Justice Department to cease legal proceedings against Adams, who maintains his innocence.
Acting Deputy Attorney General Emil Bove suggested in a memo earlier this week that dismissing the case against Adams would allow the mayor to focus on aiding President Donald Trump’s immigration policies and campaigning for reelection free from criminal charges. The decision to prioritize political considerations over evidence-based assessments drew criticism from some career prosecutors, who lamented the deviation from established practices regarding prosecution decisions. The department historically refrains from interfering in active cases, particularly in such a prestigious office.
Sassoon, previously an aide to the late Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia, was not involved in initiating the case against Adams; that task fell to former U.S. Attorney Damian Williams, who departed after the 2022 elections. Sassoon assumed the role of interim U.S. attorney on January 21, following Trump’s inauguration. Although she had temporarily taken on this responsibility, a nomination for the permanent position had not yet been confirmed by the Senate.
The Southern District of New York, known for its independent stance and robust approach to prosecuting financial wrongdoing, political corruption, and international crime, has faced administrative upheavals before. During Trump’s presidency, the office took on significant cases involving his associates, including personal lawyer Michael Cohen and advisor Steve Bannon.
Adams was indicted in September on charges related to accepting over $100,000 in illicit campaign funds while serving as Brooklyn borough president and enjoying extravagant travel perks. The indictment details an instance where a Turkish official who facilitated his travels solicited favorable actions from Adams, including lobbying for a new diplomatic building’s timely completion. The legal framework prohibits foreign nationals from contributing to U.S. elections, underscoring the seriousness of the allegations against the mayor.
Prosecutors previously maintained the investigation’s momentum, stating in court documents as recently as January that they were uncovering ongoing criminal conduct linked to Adams. Nonetheless, Bove claimed the higher-ups in Washington did not thoroughly evaluate the evidence at hand before recommending a motion to dismiss.
In her farewell to staff, Sassoon expressed pride in her service as a prosecutor but did not elaborate on her reasons for resigning. The Justice Department refrained from commenting on her departure, while Adams’ legal team has yet to address the ongoing situation publicly. It remains uncertain how the continued investigation into other aides to Adams will proceed.
