*The Department of Justice has directed prosecutors to dismiss the corruption case against New York City Mayor Eric Adams, citing concerns that it interferes with his role in supporting President Trump’s immigration policies.
Acting Deputy Attorney General Emil Bove issued the order, though the decision is not final, as it requires judicial approval, NBC New York reports. The case could be revisited once a Trump-appointed U.S. Attorney is confirmed. Prosecutors in the Southern District of New York have not yet indicated whether they will comply with the order.
We reported earlier via CNN that Adams was indicted in September on five federal charges related to bribery, wire fraud, conspiracy, and soliciting campaign contributions from foreign nationals. The indictment alleges illegal actions stretching back to 2014, from when he was Brooklyn Borough President.
“For nearly a decade, Adams sought and accepted improper valuable benefits, such as luxury international travel, including from wealthy foreign businesspeople and at least one Turkish government official seeking to gain influence over him,” the indictment reads.
Specifically, he received luxury travel and other benefits from a Turkish official and later pressured the NYC Fire Department to open a Turkish consular building without a fire inspection in exchange, the indictment says.
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Top Justice Department officials have talked with Manhattan federal prosecutors about potentially dismissing the corruption case. Acting U.S. Deputy Attorney General Emil Bove has ordered prosecutors to drop all charges against the mayor, according to a DOJ official. The dismissal would be without prejudice, according to NBC News.
“The pending prosecution has unduly restricted Mayor Adams’ ability to devote full attention and resources to the illegal immigration and violent crime,” Bove wrote.
In a statement, Adams’ attorney, Alex Spiro, said: “The facts of the case are clear: the mayor never used his official position for personal benefit. Nor did he have any role in violating campaign finance laws. Despite a lot of fanfare and sensational claims, ultimately there was no evidence presented that he broke any laws, ever,” the statement read. “The witnesses that were promised never materialized. The additional charges that were threatened never came. Now, thankfully, the mayor and New York can put this unfortunate and misguided prosecution behind them.”
Democrat state Sen. Zellnor Myrie said New Yorkers should be outraged if the charges get dropped. noting it “makes it clear that justice is dead in America.”
“We already know that Eric Adams has sacrificed the safety and sanctity of our schools and public hospitals to curry favor with this fascist Administration. How many more of our rights and freedoms did the Mayor give up to save his own skin?” Myrie said in a statement.
“New Yorkers are tired of our leaders skirting accountability…The leaders of the past have not solved our problems; and continually put their own interests and desire for power above what’s best for New Yorkers. Enough is enough,” Myrie added.
READ MORE FROM EURWEB.COM: NYC Mayor Adams’ Legal Case: Trump’s Justice Department May Drop Charges
