In a major legal and political shake-up, a federal judge has dismissed the Justice Department’s corruption case against New York City Mayor Eric Adams, and made it final.
U.S. District Judge Dale Ho ruled Wednesday that the case be tossed with prejudice, meaning the charges can’t be refiled. That decision is a significant blow to the DOJ, which had requested the case be dismissed without prejudice, allowing for the possibility of reopening it later.
The case, brought last September under the Biden administration, accused Adams of accepting bribes and illegal campaign donations from Turkish officials. Prosecutors claimed the 64-year-old mayor used his influence to pressure city officials into approving a Turkish consulate building, despite safety concerns. Adams pleaded not guilty and has consistently maintained the case was politically motivated.
Now, with Donald Trump back in the White House and his administration urging the DOJ to drop the case, the judge’s ruling is drawing heavy criticism. Some argue that closing the case permanently leaves Adams vulnerable to federal pressure, particularly from a Republican-led administration seeking stronger immigration enforcement.
Judge Ho addressed that concern directly in his decision.“Dismissing the case without prejudice would create the unavoidable perception that the Mayor’s freedom depends on his ability to carry out the immigration enforcement priorities of the administration,” he wrote, suggesting it could compromise Adams’ duty to his constituents.
Interestingly, the Trump administration appeared to side with Adams. In March, acting deputy attorney general Emil Bove recommended dropping the case altogether—not based on its legal strength, but because it was interfering with Adams’ ability to support the federal government’s immigration crackdown. Bove claimed the case was hurting Adams’ reelection chances and distracting from national deportation priorities.
While Adams avoided trial, the political consequences are far from over. As the campaign heats up, voters will have to decide if the mayor’s legal relief signals vindication, or a backroom deal driven by political interests.
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