The US justice department has instructed federal prosecutors to drop the corruption case against New York City Mayor Eric Adams.
The order was given by the acting deputy attorney general, appointed by President Donald Trump, who stated that the indictment had hindered the mayor’s ability to address issues related to illegal immigration and violent crime in the city.
Adams, a Democrat, has recently developed a closer relationship with Trump, a Republican, and has encouraged law enforcement to cooperate with the president’s immigration actions. However, he denies discussing his case with Trump.
The mayor is accused of accepting illegal campaign contributions and gifts in exchange for using his influence as mayor. He has pleaded not guilty to five charges.
Prosecutors have not yet commented on whether they plan to drop the case as directed. Any decision to do so will need to be formally submitted to the court and approved by a judge.
A memo from Acting Deputy Attorney General Emil Bove directed prosecutors to dismiss the pending charges, authorized by the attorney general.
The memo stated that the case may be revisited after the November 2025 mayoral election, but no further investigative actions should be taken until then.
Prosecutors were also instructed to work towards restoring Mayor Adams’ security clearance.
Bove, who served as Trump’s defense attorney during his trial last year, clarified that the decision was made without evaluating the evidence or legal basis of the case.
The memo followed a reported meeting between Adams’ legal team and federal prosecutors in New York.
Adams attended the presidential inauguration last month and met with Trump in Florida.
In recent weeks, the mayor has instructed city law enforcement to cooperate with federal immigration authorities on raids in New York City, a move criticized for conflicting with local sanctuary city laws.
Before the election, Trump claimed that he and Adams had been targeted for opposing the immigration policies of former President Joe Biden.
According to the indictment, Adams is accused of accepting illegal gifts worth over $100,000 from Turkish citizens and officials in exchange for favors, including assisting in opening a consulate in New York.
Legal ethics expert Professor Stephen Gillers criticized the memo ordering the case to be dropped as unfounded and offensive towards the prosecutors involved.
The mayor’s attorney hailed the decision as a victory for his client, emphasizing Adams’ innocence in the matter.