Recently, Danielle Sassoon stepped down from her brief tenure as interim U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York, making headlines for her refusal to comply with a directive to drop a corruption investigation against New York City Mayor Eric Adams. In a letter addressed to U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi, Sassoon expressed deep concerns about the implications of such a directive, asserting that following it would compromise her sworn obligation to uphold the law.
In her correspondence, which has garnered attention, Sassoon emphasized that the instruction raised significant issues that contradicted her responsibility to prosecute federal crimes impartially and advocate genuine arguments in court. Her decision to resign highlights her commitment to the legal profession and upholding justice.
Sassoon, 38, boasts an impressive educational and professional background. She graduated from Harvard College in 2008 and Yale Law School in 2011, as detailed in her now-removed biography from the Justice Department’s website. Her professional journey includes a notable position as a foreign law clerk for Justice Hanan Melcer of the Israeli Supreme Court in 2009. Additionally, her tenure at Harvard featured writing on her grandmother’s experiences escaping persecution during her youth.
She has also clerked for U.S. Court of Appeals Judge J. Harvie Wilkinson III and the late U.S. Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia, whom she praised in a 2016 tribute for his principled stance in law. Sassoon portrayed her experience with Scalia as a reminder of the integrity within the judiciary, touching on the complexities of power and the impact of corruption in politics.
In her letter regarding the directive against Mayor Adams, she invoked her deep-seated principles and challenged what she characterized as a “quid pro quo” arrangement involving Adams’ legal team. Sassoon alleged that the mayor had agreed to implement Trump’s immigration policies in exchange for immunity from prosecution. However, Adams’ legal representatives firmly denied any existence of such negotiations.
At the U.S. Attorney’s Office, Sassoon built a solid career after her clerkship with Scalia. Before her appointment as interim U.S. Attorney on January 21, she served as an assistant U.S. attorney, specializing in homicide and racketeering within the Violent and Organized Crime Unit. Throughout her career, she has participated in several high-profile prosecutions, including the case of Lawrence Ray, who was convicted of sex trafficking and abuse, and the cross-examination of cryptocurrency mogul Sam Bankman-Fried, who faces charges for defrauding significant sums of money.
Her recent role as the co-chief of the Criminal Appeals division brought her further recognition, underscored by numerous accolades from the DOJ, including the FBI Director’s Award in 2024 for exceptional criminal prosecution efforts. Despite the controversies surrounding her current charges against Adams, these were initially raised by former U.S. Attorney Damian Williams.
The fallout from Sassoon’s resignation has been swift. Acting Attorney General Emil Bove responded with a critical letter, confirming that Sassoon’s resignation was accepted amidst ongoing internal reviews of the case and the personnel involved. Notably, the prosecutors handling the case against Adams have been placed on paid administrative leave during this inquiry.
As it stands, the details surrounding the investigation and any potential repercussions remain unclear, especially given that Sassoon is no longer part of the U.S. Attorney’s Office. Following her departure, Matthew Podolsky has been appointed as the interim U.S. Attorney, filling the vacancy until President Trump’s nominee, Jay Clayton, is confirmed. As of now, no formal motions to dismiss the charges against Mayor Adams have surfaced, and personnel changes within the public integrity section of the department have commenced.
