US Attorney Danielle Sassoon Resigns as Top Manhattan Prosecutor Days After Trump’s DOJ Orders Mayor Adams Indictment Dropped
Resignation Letter Cites Refusal to Abide by Order to Drop Indictment
U.S. Attorney Danielle Sassoon of the Southern District of New York abruptly quit her post on Thursday, three days after being ordered to drop criminal charges against Mayor Eric Adams.
Photo courtesy U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of New York
Sassoon’s resignation came in a two-sentence Feb. 13 letter to U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi, according to Reuters. Her tenure at the helm of the Manhattan-based federal prosecutor’s office (SDNY) lasted less than a month; President Trump had appointed her to the post on Jan. 21.
Concerns Over Political Motivations and Quid Pro Quo
Her departure seemed to be directly related to a refusal to abide by a Feb. 10 order from acting Deputy Attorney General Emil Bove to drop the indictment against Adams, who had been charged last September with five criminal counts in an election fraud case dating back to 2021. Sassoon’s resignation letter, however, did not mention the Adams case as being the specific reason for her quitting the post.
Eight-Page Letter Explaining Refusal to Drop Indictment
On Wednesday, Sassoon sent Bondi an eight-page letter explaining why she could not, “in good conscience,” abide by Bove’s order to dismiss the Adams case, adding that she “always considered it my obligation to pursue justice impartially, without favor to the wealthy or those who occupy important public office, or harsher treatment for the less powerful.”
Quid Pro Quo Allegations
She also noted that during a meeting with Bove, Adams’ counsel, and herself on Jan. 30, Adams’ legal team “repeatedly urged what amounted to a quid pro quo, indicating that Adams would be in a position to assist with the Department’s enforcement priorities only if the indictment were dismissed.”
Resignation Accepted
The New York Times reported that upon accepting Sassoon’s resignation Thursday, Bove chided her for refusing to follow his order and further informed that other prosecutors who worked on the Adams case were being placed on administrative leave.
Condemnation of Sassoon’s Decision
“This decision is based on your choice to continue pursuing a politically motivated prosecution despite an express instruction to dismiss the case,” Bove told Sassoon Thursday in his letter, which the Times published. He further accused Sassoon of “losing sight of her oath” to the Constitution and defying a “democratically-elected President.”
Consequences for the Justice Department
The Times further reported that two members who oversee the U.S. Justice Department’s Public Integrity Section, Kevin Driscoll and John Keller, had also resigned after efforts were made to transfer the Adams case to that bureau.
Background on the Case
The indictment of Mayor Adams came as a result of a lengthy probe in which the city’s Department of Investigation cooperated with federal prosecutors.
Conclusion
The resignation of U.S. Attorney Danielle Sassoon and the decision to drop the indictment against Mayor Eric Adams have raised concerns about the motivations behind the Justice Department’s actions and the potential implications for the upcoming election.
FAQs
* What was the reason for U.S. Attorney Danielle Sassoon’s resignation?
+ Sassoon’s resignation was reportedly related to her refusal to abide by a Feb. 10 order from acting Deputy Attorney General Emil Bove to drop the indictment against Mayor Eric Adams.
* What was the outcome of the Adams case?
+ The Justice Department dropped the indictment against Mayor Eric Adams on Feb. 10.
* Who is acting Deputy Attorney General Emil Bove?
+ Emil Bove is the acting Deputy Attorney General who ordered the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of New York to drop the indictment against Mayor Eric Adams.
* What is the significance of the resignation of U.S. Attorney Danielle Sassoon?
+ Sassoon’s resignation has raised concerns about the motivations behind the Justice Department’s actions and the potential implications for the upcoming election.
