The Department of Justice has ordered the dismissal of the federal corruption case against New York City Mayor Eric Adams.
According to a memo obtained by CNN, Acting Deputy Attorney General Emil Bove, who is a former New York prosecutor, directed Acting U.S. Attorney for the Southern District, Danielle Sassoon, to drop the charges “as soon as practicable.” However, the dismissal is subject to several conditions, including a review by the Southern District after the November 2025 mayoral election.
The Justice Department had brought public corruption charges against Adams, a Democrat, last year, marking the first prosecution of a sitting New York City mayor.
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In September, Adams was indicted on five counts, accused of accepting travel perks from Turkish officials and receiving political donations from foreign entities in exchange for actions benefiting Turkey. He pleaded not guilty, and his trial is scheduled to begin on April 21.
Following the indictment, Adams vowed to fight for his innocence.
“I always knew that if I stood my ground for New Yorkers, I would be a target—and a target I became. If I am charged, I am innocent and will fight this with every ounce of my strength and spirit,” he said in September 2024.
During a press conference at his Mar-a-Lago resort in December, President Donald Trump stated that he would consider pardoning Adams.
Though he admitted he was unfamiliar with the specifics of the case, Trump expressed his willingness to grant a pardon.
“Yeah, I would,” Trump told reporters when asked about the possibility, adding that he had not yet reviewed the details of the charges.
In January 2025, Adams confirmed that he had met with Trump but emphasized that his legal case was not discussed.
“We had a productive conversation about New York’s needs, what’s best for our city, and how the federal government can help improve the lives of New Yorkers,” Adams said in a statement following the meeting in Florida. “To be clear, we did not discuss my legal case.”
READ ALSO: He accepted harmless ‘courtesies,’ not bribes – lawyer of NYC Mayor Eric Adams defends
