The U.S. Department of Justice has ordered federal prosecutors to dismiss charges against New York Mayor Eric Adams, citing concerns over prejudicial pretrial publicity and the impact on the integrity of the proceedings. The decision comes after months of speculation about potential intervention by the Trump administration.
A senior official at the U.S. Department of Justice has ordered federal prosecutors to dismiss charges against New York Mayor Eric Adams. Acting Deputy Attorney General Emil Bove, a former prosecutor in the Manhattan office that brought the case, stated in a two-page memo obtained by The Associated Press that this decision was made independent of the prosecution's strength and doesn't aim to undermine the attorneys who filed the case.
However, Bove noted that the timing of the charges and 'more recent actions' by former U.S. Attorney Damian Williams had compromised the integrity of the proceedings. He cited concerns over increased prejudicial pretrial publicity, warning that it could influence potential witnesses and the jury pool.The criminal case against Adams centered on allegations that he accepted illegal campaign contributions and extravagant travel perks exceeding $100,000. This included luxury hotel stays, costly flight upgrades, and even a visit to a Turkish bathhouse while serving as Brooklyn Borough President. Adams has consistently denied any wrongdoing, stating that criticisms of his overseas trips and deeply discounted first-class travel were unfair.The move to dismiss the charges follows months of speculation that Trump's Justice Department might intervene to end the case. The news comes after Adams traveled to Florida to meet with Trump on January 17, stating afterward that they did not discuss his criminal case or the possibility of a pardon but suggesting that Trump's policies would benefit New York more than those of former President Joe Biden. Following Trump's inauguration, Adams' legal team approached senior Justice Department officials, requesting they drop the case. Trump had previously hinted at the possibility of a pardon, telling reporters in December that Adams had been 'treated pretty unfairly' and claiming—without evidence—that Adams was being targeted for his criticism of former President Joe Biden's immigration policies.The federal prosecutor who filed the charges, former U.S. Attorney Damian Williams, resigned after Trump's election victory. Nevertheless, as recently as January 6, prosecutors indicated their investigation was ongoing, stating in court filings that they continued to 'uncover additional criminal conduct by Adams.' In December, Adams' chief advisor and closest confidant, Ingrid Lewis-Martin, was indicted by the Manhattan district attorney on charges that she and her son accepted $100,000 in bribes linked to real estate construction projects.The Justice Department's order mandates that the case be dismissed without prejudice, leaving open the possibility of it being refiled in the future. This memo represents a significant departure from longstanding Justice Department norms—both in its directive to drop a case prosecutors deemed legally sound and in its reasoning that a high-profile defendant's official duties could supersede facing accountability for alleged crimes.
ERIC ADAMS JUSTICE DEPARTMENT DONALD TRUMP CRIMINAL CHARGES CAMPAIGN FINANCE NEW YORK CITY
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