Federal Prosecutors Ordered to Drop Charges Against NYC Mayor Eric Adams
Acting U.S. Deputy Attorney General Emil Bove has ordered federal prosecutors in New York to drop corruption charges against New York City Mayor Eric Adams, a senior Justice Department official announced on Monday evening.
The order specifies that all charges against Adams are to be dismissed without prejudice, indicating that the charges may be refilled in the future.
As of now, the charges have not yet been dismissed, and federal prosecutors in New York did not immediately respond to requests for comment. The dismissal of charges would require a motion from prosecutors in the Southern District of New York, where the indictment was filed, and would need to be reviewed by a judge.
Adams, who was elected mayor in 2021 after serving as a New York Police Department captain, faced charges including bribery, fraud, and additional counts in an indictment issued in September. The indictment alleged that he accepted $100,000 worth of complimentary plane tickets and luxury hotel accommodations from affluent Turkish nationals and at least one government official in a sprawling corruption scheme lasting nearly a decade.
He has pleaded not guilty, asserting his innocence and claiming the charges are politically motivated, vowing to contest the accusations.
The official from the Justice Department also indicated that the status of the charges would be reassessed once a U.S. attorney appointed by Trump is confirmed.
Damian Williams, the Biden-appointed U.S. attorney for the Southern District of New York who initiated the charges against Adams, resigned following President Trump's election win in 2024.
Reports indicate that in late January, an attorney representing Adams reached out to Justice Department leadership regarding the possibility of dismissing the criminal case against him.
