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A federal judge in New York City has mandated that Mayor Eric Adams and officials from the Trump administration’s Department of Justice appear before the court regarding a motion to dismiss corruption charges. This motion was filed during the Biden administration’s governance.
On Tuesday, U.S. District Judge Dale Ho ordered both parties to present themselves at the Lower Manhattan court on Wednesday at 2 p.m. ET. Adams also received an order to submit his consent in writing for the dismissal motion by Tuesday at 5 p.m. ET. The court had noted that the DOJ claimed Adams provided written consent, yet no documentation had been submitted to the court to support this assertion.
The Department of Justice’s motion referenced legal precedents concerning federal dismissal procedures. One judicial opinion stated that the executive branch holds the ultimate authority to decide whether to initiate or terminate a prosecution, suggesting judicial intervention is unwarranted unless it is blatantly contrary to public interest.
However, Judge Ho emphasized the judiciary’s independent responsibilities, particularly after the government pursues an indictment or conviction. He highlighted that a judge must be “satisfied that the reasons advanced for the proposed dismissal are substantial” to approve any dismissal request.
In the wake of these developments, four deputy mayors under Adams announced their resignations. This decision coincides with the Justice Department’s efforts to dismiss the corruption case against Adams, which would position the mayor as compliant with President Donald Trump’s agenda aimed at combating illegal immigration.
In the same vein, several high-profile prosecutors from both Manhattan and Washington, D.C., have resigned following the DOJ’s motion to drop the case against Adams, marking a significant shift within the ranks of federal prosecutors.
New York Governor Kathy Hochul is contemplating the possibility of removing Adams from office. Speculation has emerged around former Governor Andrew Cuomo potentially challenging Adams in the upcoming Democratic mayoral primary, although he has not formally announced his candidacy. Candidates already in the race include former City Comptroller Scott Stringer and current City Comptroller Brad Lander.
Lander, who has received endorsements from prominent progressives such as Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and Sen. Elizabeth Warren, expressed intentions to initiate a process for Adams’ removal without needing approval from the governor.
On Tuesday, Stringer wrote to Hochul asking for Adams’ removal, contending that the mayor has lost confidence from both elected officials and the public. Stringer argued that even those close to Adams, namely public servants, have questioned his ability to manage the city’s extensive budget and workforce.
Meanwhile, the Justice Department is probing allegations of insubordination among attorneys in the Southern District of New York, escalating tensions within the agency.
Adams has denied any wrongdoing, pleading not guilty to charges stemming from his previous role as Brooklyn borough president. He is accused of accepting over $100,000 in illegal campaign contributions and receiving extravagant travel perks from a Turkish businessman and other influential figures seeking to sway his decisions. Notably, these allegations arose at a time when Adams criticized the Biden administration’s handling of the escalating immigration crisis in New York City.
With the political landscape in flux, Adams is cooperating with border enforcement czar Tom Homan, enabling Immigration and Customs Enforcement to resume operations at Riker’s Island jail.
The mayoral primary is anticipated at a crucial moment when a separate case is being reviewed by Judge Jenny Rivera of the New York Court of Appeals. This case revolves around a law that could potentially allow 800,000 noncitizens to participate in city-level elections, which has significant implications for the unfolding political dynamic.
A former Watergate prosecutor has recently urged the presiding federal judge in Adams’ case to assign special counsel for impartial deliberation regarding the DOJ’s motion. Also, three former U.S. attorneys have called for thorough investigations into the matter, underlining the challenges the current situation presents.
The past week has been marked by heightened tensions within the Justice Department, especially between the officials involved in the Adams prosecution. Following a public confrontation, Danielle Sassoon, the interim U.S. Attorney in Manhattan, and Hagan Scotten, a key prosecutor in Adams’ case, chose to resign from their positions.
This report contains contributions from the Associated Press.
