Yikes! The Justice Department recently got involved, telling federal prosecutors to drop corruption charges against New York City Mayor Eric Adams. This is a big deal because the Justice Department usually doesn't let powerful people off the hook, even if they are doing important work like helping with immigration issues.

        The acting Deputy Attorney General, Emil Bove, said the charges were dropped not because of a lack of proof, but because the case was getting in the way of Adams' work. Bove said the pending prosecution was "unduly restricting" Adams' ability to help with illegal immigration and violent crime.

        This decision is a big surprise, it's not usual for the Justice Department to say that a powerful person, like a mayor or a president, is too busy to answer for their alleged crimes. Usually, Justice Department lets investigations and trials go on, even when people have important jobs.

        A spokesperson for the acting U. S. attorney for the Southern District of New York, Danielle Sassoon, didn't comment. The case against Adams was originally started by a different U. S. attorney, Damien Williams. We wonder what Williams would have to say about it.

        Adams was charged in September with accepting bribes of free or discounted travel and illegal campaign contributions from foreign nationals.

        The charges were dropped just months before the mayoral election in November. The Justice Department's memo said prosecutors in New York can't take any more investigative steps against Adams until after the election. This means the charges could be brought back later, depending on a review.

        The charges are serious. Adams is accused of taking illegal campaign contributions and lavish travel perks worth more than $100, 000.

        There were expensive flight upgrades, luxury hotel stays, and even a trip to a bathhouse. A Turkish official who helped facilitate the trips asked Adams for favors in return. Adams was also accused of personally directing campaign staffers to solicit foreign donations and then disguising those contributions.

        Adams' new stance on immigration has been a big shift from his previous position. He has moved noticeably right following his indictment. This has angered some Democrats. Critics say that Adams is doing the Trump administration's bidding in return for leniency.

        Brad Lander, the city's comptroller and a mayoral challenger, said, "Instead of standing up for New Yorkers, Adams is standing up for precisely one person. " Zohran Mamdani, a state assemblymember who is also running for mayor, called for an investigation into whether Adams "cut any kind of deal with the Trump administration that involves breaking city law. "

        The Justice Department's memo also said that Adams criticized the prior Administration's immigration policies before the charges were filed.

        Federal agents had also been investigating other senior Adams aides.

        But, In December, Adams' chief adviser and closest confidant, Ingrid Lewis-Martin, was indicted by a state prosecutor on charges that she and her son accepted $100, 000 in bribes related to real estate construction projects.

Just Drop It: Why The Feds Let New York Mayor Off The Hook

Actions