The U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) has instructed federal prosecutors in New York to drop corruption charges against New York City Mayor Eric Adams on Monday, February 10th, citing concerns over election interference and the mayor’s ability to address crime and illegal immigration.
Acting Deputy Attorney General Emil Bove sent a memo to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of New York (SDNY), directing prosecutors to dismiss the case without prejudice. The decision comes months after Adams was indicted on bribery, conspiracy, and campaign finance charges related to alleged illegal contributions from Turkish business people. He has pleaded not guilty.
“You are directed, as authorized by the Attorney General, to dismiss the pending charges in United States v. Adams as soon as practicable,” Bove wrote. The memo specifies that Adams must agree to the dismissal without prejudice, meaning the case could be revisited, and that no investigative steps should be taken until after the 2025 mayoral election.
Bove’s directive cited broader policy concerns, referencing an executive order by President Donald Trump aimed at preventing the “weaponization” of law enforcement. He argued that the prosecution had “unduly restricted” Adams’ ability to focus on crime and illegal immigration, issues the Trump administration has prioritized.
“The timing of the charges and more recent public actions by the former U.S. Attorney responsible for initiating the case have threatened the integrity of the proceedings,” Bove wrote. He also pointed to Adams’ past criticism of Biden-era immigration policies, suggesting the case against him had been politically motivated.
The move has drawn criticism from legal experts. Stephen Gillers, a professor at NYU Law, called the decision “a baseless and offensive slur” against the prosecutors who brought the case. The Manhattan U.S. Attorney’s Office, which filed the charges, has not yet commented on whether it will comply with the DOJ’s directive.
Adams’ attorney, Alex Spiro, welcomed the development. “As I said from the outset, the mayor is innocent—and he would prevail. Today he has,” Spiro said.
The mayor recently met with Trump in Florida and denied discussing his case with the president. In recent weeks, his administration has also aligned more closely with federal immigration authorities, directing city agencies to cooperate in enforcement efforts despite New York City’s longstanding sanctuary policies.
The case may be reconsidered after the election, but the DOJ’s directive changes the course of the legal proceedings. The court will make the final determination by deciding whether to approve the prosecution’s motion to dismiss.
