NYC Prosecutor Confident Adams Committed Crimes, Refuses to Drop Case
Top Federal Prosecutor Resigns After Refusing to Comply with Justice Department Order
The top federal prosecutor in Manhattan, Danielle Sassoon, resigned on Thursday after refusing a Justice Department order to drop corruption charges against New York City Mayor Eric Adams. Before quitting, Sassoon told President Donald Trump’s new attorney general that she was “confident” Adams had committed the crimes.
Senior Justice Department Officials Also Resign
Two senior Justice Department officials also resigned after the department leadership moved to seize control of the case. The acting deputy U.S. attorney general, former Trump personal lawyer Emil Bove, who had ordered the Adams case dropped, said in a letter accepting Sassoon’s resignation that the Justice Department in Washington would file a motion to drop the charges and bar “further targeting” of the Democratic mayor.
Disagreement Over Case Handling
The dueling letters from officials in New York and Washington laid bare in starkly personal language the gravity of a simmering, behind-the-scenes dispute over the handling of one of the government’s most significant current public corruption cases. The outcome not only threatens to create an irrevocable fissure in the relationship between the department’s headquarters and its most prestigious prosecutorial offices, but also risks reinforcing the perception that Trump’s administration will employ a transactional approach to law enforcement decisions.
Sassoon’s Letter to U.S. Attorney General
“I remain baffled by the rushed and superficial process by which this decision was reached,” Sassoon wrote Wednesday in a letter to U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi, a copy of which was obtained by NBC News. Sassoon urged Bondi to reconsider the directive to drop Adams’ case.
Consequences of the Dispute
The exits came days after Bove directed federal prosecutors in New York to end the case against Adams, who was accused of accepting illegal campaign contributions and bribes of free or discounted travel from people who wanted to buy his influence. He has pleaded not guilty.
Adams’ Meeting with Trump Border Czar
Adams met with the Trump border czar just two days after the DOJ told prosecutors to drop the corruption case against the mayor. At issue: Would NYC relax its sanctuary laws and allow ICE agents and other federal authorities access to buildings like courthouses, shelters, and schools? In an interview with NBC New York, the mayor said he would offer to help turn over criminals, but not asylum seekers who haven’t done anything wrong. Andrew Siff reports.
Bove’s Memo on Case Dismissal
Bove said in a memo Monday that the case should be dismissed so Adams could aid President Donald Trump’s immigration crackdown and campaign for reelection free from facing criminal charges. The primary is four months away, and Adams has multiple challengers.
Consequences for Prosecutors
Bove scolded Sassoon in a letter accepting her resignation, saying she was “incapable of fairly and impartially reviewing the circumstances of this prosecution.” Bove said he would open internal investigations into her “conduct” and that of prosecutors who worked on the Adam case. They will be placed on “off-duty, administrative leave,” he said.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Why did the Justice Department order the case to be dropped?
A: The department ordered the case to be dropped to allow Adams to aid the Trump administration’s immigration enforcement priorities and campaign for reelection.
Q: What is the current status of the case?
A: As of Thursday evening, the charges remained in place.
Q: What is the significance of the dispute?
A: The dispute threatens to create an irrevocable fissure in the relationship between the department’s headquarters and its most prestigious prosecutorial offices, and risks reinforcing the perception that Trump’s administration will employ a transactional approach to law enforcement decisions.
