Federal judge permanently closes NYC Mayor Adams’ corruption case

• A federal judge has permanently dismissed the criminal corruption case against New York City Mayor Eric Adams. The charges, which included bribery and wire fraud, were dropped after the Trump administration’s Department of Justice requested dismissal, citing concerns over Adams enforcing federal immigration policy.
• U.S. District Court Judge Dale E. Ho ruled that dismissing the case without prejudice would suggest a political bargain.
• Adams, who is running for reelection, called the case baseless and welcomed the dismissal.

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A federal judge has permanently dismissed the criminal corruption case against New York City Mayor Eric Adams.

In September 2024, Adams was indicted on five charges. They include bribery, wire fraud, conspiracy to commit wire fraud and two charges related to receiving campaign contributions from foreign nationals.

The indictment claimed that Adams “solicited and demanded” over $100,000 in bribes, including luxury travel perks from a Turkish official as early as 2016. The official reportedly sought Adams’ assistance with Turkish consulate regulations in Manhattan.

In January, Adams appeared on the Tucker Carlson Podcast, where he said he felt the Biden administration’s Department of Justice was targeting him over comments he made about the migrant crisis.

“I think there are those within that orbit who felt I was not a good Democrat,” Adams told Carlson. “Because I watched my city, a city that I love, endure the onslaught of migrant and immigration policy, a failed border policy. After 10 trips to Washington, stating that this was a problem costing us a great deal of money — $6.5 billion of our tax dollars — I think some were just angry about it and thought I wasn’t a good Democrat.”

In February, the Trump administration’s Department of Justice asked federal prosecutors to drop the case against the sitting mayor without prejudice, meaning charges could be filed again in the future.

Acting Deputy Attorney General Emil Bove sent a memo to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of New York (SDNY), stating in part that the Trump administration was concerned about how the prosecution might impact Adams’ ability “to protect the American people from the disastrous effects of unlawful mass migration and resettlement.”

Days later, the SDNY’s top prosecutor, Danielle Sassoon, resigned after refusing to comply with Bove’s orders.

In a letter to Attorney General Pam Bondi, Sassoon stated the government had no valid basis for seeking the dismissal. Sassoon wrote, “Rather than be rewarded, Adams’s advocacy should be called out for what it is: An improper offer of immigration enforcement assistance in exchange for a dismissal of his case.”

In other words, Sassoon criticized the DOJ’s orders to drop Adams’ case as “quid pro quo,” meaning if the indictment against Adams were dismissed, Adams would help the federal government with its immigration enforcement policies.

On Wednesday, April 2, U.S. District Court Judge Dale E. Ho ordered the case dismissed with prejudice, so the federal government cannot bring the charges against Adams in the future.

In his decision, the judge stated that dismissing the case without prejudice could suggest that the mayor’s freedom depends on enforcing Trump’s immigration priorities, making him appear more aligned with federal demands than his constituents’ wishes.

“Everything here smacks of a bargain: dismissal of the indictment in exchange for immigration policy concessions,” the judge wrote.

Adams reacted to the news Wednesday afternoon.

“As I’ve said all along, this case should have never been brought, and I did nothing wrong,” Adams said. “I’m now happy that our city can finally close the book on this and focus solely on the future of our great city.”

Adams is running for reelection this year, and according to Data for Progress, former New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo is currently leading the incumbent mayor, polling at 39% compared to Adams’ 7%.

New York City’s mayoral primary is June 24.