A Department of Justice (DOJ) official has ordered federal prosecutors to dismiss corruption charges against President Trump and New York Mayor Eric Adams (D) in recent months as the April bribery trial approaches. I did.
in Short notesDeputy Attorney General Emil Bove said the DOJ reached a decision to dismiss the count without assessing the strength of the case, indicating that the lawyers who filed the charges had not done anything wrong.
But Bove said the incident “inappropriately intervened” in Adams' 2025 mayoral campaign, implying the Trump administration's efforts to end the federal government's “weaponization” as a reason to close the incident. did.
He also alleged that the pending prosecution “unfairly limited” the mayor's ability to focus on “illegal immigration and violent crimes that escalated under previous administration policies.”
Prosecutors have said that since 2014, Adams accepted “inappropriate and valuable benefits” including a luxurious international trip from a wealthy foreign businessman and at least one Turkish government official, and influenced him. He said he was about to give it.
By 2018, the mayor “accepted but sought” the contribution of the illegal campaign to the 2021 mayor's campaign, in addition to “other valuable things” from foreigners, according to the accusation. .
Adams faces counts of wire fraud, wire fraud, conspiracy to solicit contributions by foreigners and bribery.
The mayor of New York frowned upon his apparent relationship with Trump.
He met with Trump before the president was sworn in and made last-minute changes to his schedule so that he could attend Trump's inauguration earlier this month. Trump publicly sympathizes with Adams. In December he said “look” at the mayor's pardon.
“I think he was treated quite unfairly,” Trump said.
The charges were filed under Damian Williams, who served as the US lawyer for the Southern District of New York during the Biden administration. Bove threatens the integrity of the case, including “recent public actions” by Williams, including increasing prejudiced publicity that risks affecting a pool of potential witnesses and juices. He suggested. Opinion piece It was written after he left the office.
Adams' attorney, Alex Spiro, said there was “just good reason” that the Justice Department decided not to move forward with the case. He said there was “no evidence” that the mayor had broken the law despite “fanfare and sensational claims.”
“Like I said from the beginning, the mayor is innocent and he'll win,” Spiro said.
The Associated Press contributed.
