NEW YORK CITY—A federal judge has permanently dismissed New York City Mayor Eric Adams’s corruption case following a Feb. 10 request from the Department of Justice (DOJ) to drop the case.
The case was dismissed with prejudice, which means that the charges cannot be brought again.
District Judge Dale Ho’s decision frees Adams to concentrate on the upcoming Democratic primary for the mayoralty in June.
The decision to dismiss with prejudice was made against the suggestion of the DOJ, which asked for the case to be dismissed without prejudice, recommending that the case be continued after the mayoral elections.
Ho said his reasoning in an opinion and order announcement.
“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, and that he might be more beholden to the demands of the federal government than to the wishes of his own constituents,” the 78-page opinion reads.
Ho said the DOJ does not oppose a dismissal with prejudice.
“Mayor Adams has filed his own motion seeking dismissal with prejudice on other grounds, and DOJ has not opposed his motion, effectively waiving any objection to permanent dismissal of this case,” Ho’s opinion reads.
The DOJ’s reasoning for dropping the case was “troubling,” according to Ho. He said he continued with the dismissal because the court cannot order the DOJ to continue the prosecution in this case.
“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’s opinion reads. ”The Court notes only that it has no authority to require that it continue.”
Danielle Sassoon, former interim U.S. attorney for the Southern District of New York, stepped down on Feb. 13 rather than comply with the order to dismiss the case. Ho then appointed Paul Clement, an outside lawyer, to serve as amicus curiae, or friend of the court, to present arguments regarding the DOJ’s motion. Clement suggested to Ho on March 7 that the case be dismissed.
The case was centered on Adams allegedly receiving improper gifts from Turkish officials and businesspeople in return for favors, as well as accepting free flight upgrades and straw donations.
