The Department of Justice has directed federal prosecutors to drop corruption charges against New York City Mayor Eric Adams, citing concerns that the high-profile case has hindered his ability to govern. The decision, outlined in a memo obtained by CNN, has drawn immediate backlash from Adams' political opponents, who accuse him of leveraging ties to President Donald Trump to evade legal consequences.
Acting Deputy Attorney General Emil Bove, a former federal prosecutor in New York, instructed the Southern District of New York (SDNY) to dismiss the charges "as soon as is practicable" but left open the possibility of revisiting the case after the November 2025 mayoral election. The memo does not assess the strength of the evidence against Adams, nor does it rule out a future prosecution.
Adams was indicted last year on allegations of accepting illegal campaign contributions from Turkish nationals in exchange for political favors, including pressuring city agencies to take favorable action on their behalf. He pleaded not guilty, and the case was set to go to trial this spring. The charges marked the first federal prosecution of a sitting New York City mayor in modern history.
In response to the DOJ's decision, Adams' attorney Alex Spiro declared the mayor's innocence. "As I said from the outset, the mayor is innocent-and he would prevail. Today he has," Spiro said. He later told CNN, "He would have been acquitted in 45 minutes."
The memo suggests that the case was dismissed due to its impact on Adams' ability to manage the city's ongoing crises, particularly rising violent crime and a migrant surge. "The pending prosecution has unduly restricted Mayor Adams' ability to devote full attention and resources to the illegal immigration and violent crime that escalated under the policies of the prior administration," Bove wrote.
The move has intensified scrutiny of Adams' relationship with Trump, who had previously expressed sympathy for the mayor's legal troubles. "We were persecuted, Eric. I was persecuted, and so are you, Eric," Trump told Adams at the Al Smith charity dinner in New York last year. Speculation about a potential pardon or case dismissal began shortly after Trump took office, fueled by Adams' recent visit to Mar-a-Lago and his refusal to endorse Vice President Kamala Harris in the upcoming election.
Adams has long claimed that the charges against him were politically motivated, linking them to his criticism of the Biden administration's handling of immigration. "It cannot be ignored that Mayor Adams criticized the prior administration's immigration policies before the charges were filed," Bove wrote in his directive.
Critics, including several mayoral candidates, swiftly condemned the DOJ's decision. New York City Comptroller Brad Lander accused Adams of prioritizing self-preservation over the city's needs. "Today, Mayor Adams instructed his top officials not to criticize Donald Trump. And now we know why," Lander said, referencing reports of a directive within City Hall to avoid publicly attacking the president.
State Sen. Zellnor Myrie called the move "outrageous," asserting, "If there was any doubt left, today's news makes it clear that justice is dead in America." He accused Adams of sacrificing the city's interests to curry favor with Trump.
Former city comptroller Scott Stringer framed the decision as a distraction from real issues. "The only New Yorker breathing a sigh of relief tonight is Eric Adams," he said. "The rest of us are facing unaffordable housing and childcare costs and rising crime."
State Sen. Jessica Ramos labeled Adams "the worst mayor in NYC history" and warned that the decision would embolden Trump. "Donald Trump may think this buys him access to terrorize our communities, but New Yorkers always stand up for one another," she said.
Assembly Member Zohran Mamdani called Adams' legal maneuvering a "shameless effort to avoid legal accountability," adding, "Election Day can't come soon enough."
Attorney Jim Walden, an independent mayoral candidate, dismissed claims that Adams was unfairly targeted. "The move will not save him at the ballot box," he wrote on X. "When I am mayor, New Yorkers will have confidence in the integrity of City Hall again-after a decade of corruption."
The Justice Department's order leaves the possibility of future legal action open. Whether SDNY will comply with the directive remains uncertain. The office has a long history of operating independently from Washington and could opt to fight the dismissal in court.
