New York City Mayor Eric Adams is pushing back hard, calling for a U.S. judge to permanently shut down the corruption case against him—a move that’s stirring political tension with President Donald Trump’s Justice Department.
The legal battle took an unexpected turn when a top Justice Department official, appointed by Trump, ordered federal prosecutors in Manhattan to drop their bribery case against Adams. The rationale? The mayor’s attention was needed elsewhere—specifically, aiding Trump’s crackdown on immigration. The directive led to a mass exodus of prosecutors, including Manhattan’s U.S. Attorney Danielle Sassoon, who resigned in protest.
While the Justice Department filed for a dismissal “without prejudice,” leaving the door open for future charges, Adams has had enough. His legal team is now demanding the case be dismissed “with prejudice,” blocking any chance of a revival. Adams’ defense argues that leaks surrounding internal Justice Department communications have tainted the process, making a fair trial impossible.
“The government’s actions have erased whatever presumption of innocence the mayor had left,” wrote Adams’ attorney, Alex Spiro, in a court filing.
The judge overseeing the case, Dale Ho, is weighing his options. He’s already brought in former U.S. Solicitor General Paul Clement—an attorney with conservative leanings—to weigh in on whether the case should remain open-ended. Clement’s report is expected on March 7, with oral arguments potentially following a week later.
Meanwhile, New York’s Democratic leadership remains divided. Some see Adams as compromised due to his entanglement with Trump’s administration, while others—like Governor Kathy Hochul—have resisted calls for his removal, instead proposing increased oversight of the mayor’s office.
As the legal and political drama unfolds, Adams remains firm: he wants the case closed for good. The decision now rests in the hands of the court.
