Justice officials tell prosecutors to drop charges against N.Y. Mayor Eric Adams

 https://www.washingtonpost.com/national-security/2025/02/10/new-york-mayor-eric-adams-charges-drop-justice/

The memo from acting deputy attorney general Emil Bove said the decision was not based on the evidence or theory of the case against Adams, who was indicted in September and accused of being under illegal foreign influence and accepting bribes through campaign donations and luxury travel perks.

Instead, Bove made the unusual argument that Adams — who has made a point of aligning himself with President Donald Trump in recent months — should be free “to devote full attention and resources” to addressing illegal immigration and violent crime in New York City.

He suggested, without citing evidence, that charges were brought under prior leadership in the U.S. attorney’s office for political reasons. And he said the case should be dropped in part because it was brought about nine months before the mayoral primary, according to a copy of the memo obtained by The Washington Post.

New York Law School legal historian and former state prosecutor Rebecca Roiphe said Bove’s directive leaves the impression that Adams will have to help Trump carry out his immigration policies in New York, a “sanctuary city,” to earn his way to a final resolution of his own legal case.

“Essentially what he’s doing is extorting New York City. … They’re holding over his head the possibility that he’ll be reindicted,” Roiphe said. She called the move “political boss-like activity” from a bygone era.