A federal judge on Wednesday permanently dismissed the criminal case against New York City Mayor Eric Adams.

The dismissal follows President Trump’s Justice Department ordering prosecutors to dismiss all federal corruption charges against Adams.

Trump’s DOJ Moves To DROP Corruption Charges Against NYC Mayor Eric Adams

BBC reports:

The move led to the resignation of Manhattan's top federal prosecutor who accused Adams of striking a deal with the Trump administration to dismiss his case in exchange for immigration enforcement.

The Manhattan judge dismissed the case "with prejudice", which means the Department of Justice (DOJ) cannot refile the charges against Adams based on the same evidence.

Adams was charged with conspiracy, fraud, soliciting illegal campaign contributions, and bribery. He had denied any wrongdoing.

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In an indictment last September, Adams was alleged to have accepted gifts totalling more than $100,000 (£75,000) from Turkish citizens in exchange for favours.

But in February, acting deputy attorney general Emil Bove, a Trump appointee, ordered New York prosecutors to drop the case against Adams. He argued the case "restricted" the mayor's ability to address "illegal immigration and violent crime" - a key goal of the Trump administration.

From the New York Post:

New York City Mayor Eric Adams’ historic federal corruption case has been tossed — leaving him free to campaign for a second term without the threat of jail hanging over his head.

Judge Dale Ho ordered the case to be dismissed on Wednesday with prejudice, formally killing the criminal case that has hung over Hizzoner’s head for six months.

“To be clear, the Court again emphasizes that it does not express any opinion as to the merits of the case or whether the prosecution of Mayor Adams “should” move forward.,” Ho wrote in the 78-page decision. “The Court notes only that it has no authority to require that it continue.”

“Ultimately, because the decision to discontinue a prosecution belongs primarily to a political branch of government, it is the public’s judgment, and not this Court’s, that truly matters.”

The hotly anticipated decision by the Manhattan judge followed a political firestorm ignited by President Trump’s Department of Justice ordering prosecutors to drop the prosecution against Adams.

 

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