Federal Judge Delays Corruption Trial for NYC Mayor Eric Adams, Appoints Counsel to Review DOJ Request

A federal judge on Friday adjourned the corruption trial of New York City Mayor Eric Adams and appointed legal counsel to assess the Justice Department’s controversial request to dismiss charges against the Democratic mayor.

Judge Postpones Decision on Dismissal Request

Judge Dale E. Ho’s ruling will delay the case by at least several weeks before he decides whether to approve the DOJ’s request. The delay introduces further uncertainty into the high-profile legal battle surrounding Adams, who leads the nation’s largest city.

At a Wednesday hearing, Acting Deputy U.S. Attorney General Emil Bove defended the move to drop charges, citing an executive order from former President Donald Trump that outlines his administration’s criminal justice priorities.

Adams acknowledged during the hearing that charges could potentially be reinstated at a later date. This aspect of the DOJ’s request has fueled speculation that the mayor might be compelled to implement Trump’s policies—particularly those targeting undocumented immigrants—if he wants to remain free from prosecution.

Federal Government’s Request Faces Scrutiny

“This request is virtually unreviewable in this courtroom,” Bove argued in defense of the DOJ’s motion.

Adams was indicted in September, accused of accepting over $100,000 in illegal campaign contributions and travel perks from a Turkish official and business leaders seeking political influence while he served as Brooklyn borough president. He faces multiple challengers in the upcoming Democratic primary in June.

Judge Seeks Legal Input Before Ruling

To ensure a thorough review of the DOJ’s request, Judge Ho announced Friday that he has appointed Paul Clement, a former U.S. solicitor general and acting U.S. attorney general, as amicus curiae to present arguments on whether the charges should be dismissed.

Ho outlined several key legal questions for all parties and Clement to address, including:

  • The legal standard for dismissing charges
  • Whether the court can consider materials beyond the motion itself
  • Under what conditions additional procedural steps or further inquiries are warranted
  • The circumstances under which charges may be dismissed with or without the possibility of reinstatement

The judge set a deadline of March 7 for legal briefs to be filed, with oral arguments—if necessary—scheduled for March 14. Adams is not required to attend future court hearings.

DOJ Prosecutors Resign Over Controversial Move

Bove’s request to drop the charges had initially been rejected by then-Interim U.S. Attorney Danielle Sassoon, who resigned shortly afterward.

In a resignation letter, another prosecutor, Hagan Scotten, criticized Bove’s directive, stating that only a “fool” or a “coward” would comply, adding, “but it was never going to be me.”

A total of seven prosecutors, including five senior Justice Department officials, resigned before Bove and two other Washington-based prosecutors formally submitted the motion to dismiss the case.

Governor Hochul Declines Immediate Action Against Adams

New York Gov. Kathy Hochul said Thursday that she would not immediately invoke her authority to remove Adams from office, citing concerns that such an action could cause “disruption and chaos” and ultimately be seen as undemocratic.

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