Mayor Eric Adams urged a federal judge Wednesday to dismiss his corruption case, accusing prosecutors of misconduct after internal Justice Department disputes became public. His lawyers claim a leaked letter from former U.S. Attorney Danielle Sassoon violated his rights and jeopardized his fair trial.
Sassoon had resisted dropping charges, alleging Adams sought case dismissal in exchange for supporting Donald Trump’s policies. Acting Deputy Attorney General Emil Bove overruled her, emphasizing the mayor’s role in law enforcement efforts. Adams, indicted for allegedly accepting illegal donations, maintains his innocence.
With the Justice Department also seeking dismissal, the judge has paused trial proceedings and will decide in the coming weeks. Adams’ attorneys argue the case should be permanently dropped, calling it a politically damaging “cancer” on his mayoral campaign.
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