NYC Mayor Eric Adams Dismissed of Charges Months Before Possible Re-Election
On Wednesday, New York City Mayor Eric Adams was dismissed with prejudice from corruption charges leading to his indictment in September 2024.
Adams was charged with several counts of corruption by the US government including “conspiracy, fraud, soliciting illegal campaign contributions, and bribery.”
Adams allegedly accepted gifts amounting to more than $100,000 from Turkish citizens “in exchange for favors,” according to BBC.
US District Judge Dale Ho oversaw the case and issued the ruling.
The White House has pushed to get the case dropped in order to enable the mayor to focus on illegal immigration, which has become a major issue in New York City. Deputy Attorney General Emil Bove ordered the prosecution to drop the case in February.
However, Judge Ho argued what would happen if the case was dismissed differently. He suggested that if the case was dismissed without prejudice, it would give the appearance of political bargaining:
“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. Everything here smacks of a bargain: dismissal of the indictment in exchange for immigration policy concessions.”
After the judge’s ruling, Mayor Adams commented:
“As I said all along, this case never should have been brought, and I did nothing wrong. I have always been solely beholden to the people of this city. No special interests, no political opponents, but just everyday New Yorkers, just you.”
Mayor Adams then held up a copy of Kash Patel’s book “Government Gangsters,” which he co-signs and claims to have found his prosecutors’ “rationale” behind his indictment within.
“I’m going to encourage every New Yorker to read it,” Adams said. “Read it and understand how we can never allow this to happen to another innocent American.”
