A federal judge in Manhattan has indefinitely delayed the corruption trial of New York City Mayor Eric Adams, opting to conduct further inquiry before deciding whether to dismiss the case altogether. The move extends uncertainty over allegations that have loomed over Adams since last year.
Judge Dale Ho appointed former U.S. Solicitor General Paul Clement to provide an independent assessment of the U.S. Department of Justice’s request to drop the charges. While the Justice Department and Adams’ legal team both support dismissal, the judge noted the absence of an adversarial process, requiring additional scrutiny before making a final ruling.
Adams, 64, was charged in September with accepting bribes and campaign contributions from Turkish nationals seeking political influence. His trial was originally set for April 21 but will no longer proceed as scheduled. The case took a sharp political turn earlier this month when top Justice Department officials, under the direction of Acting Deputy Attorney General Emil Bove, moved to have it dismissed—prompting multiple prosecutors to resign in protest.
Bove, who previously served as former President Donald Trump’s personal defense attorney, argued that Adams should be cleared to focus on assisting Trump in his efforts to curb illegal immigration. The mayor’s defense team insists the case was flawed from the start, with attorney Alex Spiro calling it a prime example of “government weaponization.”
Judge Ho has given the Justice Department, Adams’ attorneys, and Clement until March 7 to propose next steps, with potential oral arguments set for March 14. Meanwhile, the mayoral primary in New York City looms in June, adding political weight to the unfolding legal battle.
