Al Sharpton Demands Trump Pardon Mayor Adams Amidst Corruption Case Dismissal Debate

Edited by: Fern Sidman

In a dramatic and politically charged call to action, Rev. Al Sharpton has demanded that President Donald Trump issue an immediate pardon for New York City Mayor Eric Adams, arguing that it is the only way to prevent Adams from being politically indebted to the president. As The New York Post reported on Saturday, Sharpton made his bold declaration at his National Action Network headquarters in Harlem, framing the issue as one of unequal justice and claiming that Trump is “playing by two sets of rules” when it comes to presidential pardons.

This latest development adds yet another layer of controversy to the already contentious and politically fraught corruption case against Adams. While federal prosecutors have moved to drop the case, they have left the door open to reinstating charges at a later date. Critics argue that Adams, despite his repeated denials, now finds himself at the mercy of Trump, a scenario that Sharpton and other political allies of the mayor are eager to neutralize.

According to the information provided in The New York Post report, Sharpton made it clear that he believes Trump must either fully pardon Adams or leave him alone—suggesting that the mere act of dismissing the case without an official pardon places Adams in an untenable political position. Sharpton’s remarks were laced with strong rhetoric, drawing comparisons between the treatment of Adams and Trump’s handling of the January 6th Capitol riot defendants:

“Did you see the film on January 6th? Trump pardoned all of them,” Sharpton declared, according to The New York Post report as he referenced the participants of the 2021 attack on the U.S. Capitol. “These people urinated in congressmen’s offices, all of that, called them hostages. Now you turn around trying to hold Eric and the City of New York as hostages? Some of us won’t sit back quietly.”

Sharpton’s outrage centers on the idea that Trump has intervened to help Adams but only to a limited extent—ensuring that while the mayor avoids immediate legal consequences, the threat of prosecution still looms over him. This, in Sharpton’s view, creates a power dynamic where Adams could feel obligated to align himself with Trump politically, a prospect that Sharpton and other Adams allies find deeply problematic.

As the report in The New York Post indicated, Adams’ precarious position has also placed New York Governor Kathy Hochul in a difficult spot. Under New York law, Hochul is the only state official with the authority to remove Adams from office, and while she has not ruled out the possibility, she is likely to tread carefully before making such a drastic move.

Sharpton’s statements suggest that any attempt by Hochul to oust Adams without strong backing from Black political leaders—including Sharpton himself—would be met with fierce resistance. The New York Post report highlighted that support from Black voters and lawmakers is critical in this debate, as Adams enjoys considerable political strength within the city’s Black communities.

Despite the motion to dismiss the corruption case, The New York Post report noted that the legal issues surrounding Adams remain far from resolved. The original bribery charges—which were at the heart of the case—have not been formally addressed, and the dismissal does not equate to an exoneration.

The motion to dismiss, which still requires judicial approval, rests on claims that the prosecution was politically motivated, particularly by former Manhattan U.S. Attorney Damian Williams.

Adams’ security clearance had been revoked, creating a public safety risk. The case’s timing coincides too closely with Adams’ re-election bid, raising concerns about election interference.

However, none of these factors dispute the underlying allegations of bribery, a point that critics—including Adams’ political adversaries—have been quick to highlight. This, as The New York Post report emphasized, keeps the cloud of corruption allegations hanging over the mayor, even as his legal situation improves.

Throughout this controversy, President Trump has repeatedly denied any personal involvement in the Justice Department’s decision to drop the case against Adams. As The New York Post reported, both Trump and Adams have dismissed suggestions that the mayor is now indebted to the president.

However, this has not stopped Trump’s critics from accusing him of using the case as political leverage. The fact that federal prosecutors did not fully exonerate Adams but merely paused the case has led to speculation that Trump could use the case as a bargaining chip in future political dealings.

Sharpton’s demand for a presidential pardon is a preemptive strike against that possibility—seeking to ensure that Adams is legally and politically free from any Trump influence. As The New York Post report pointed out, this highlights how even dropped charges can carry immense political consequences, particularly for a high-profile Democrat such as Adams in a deeply blue city.

Beyond Adams himself, the larger question remains: How will this controversy shape New York City’s political future? According to The New York Post, Adams’ political survival hinges on multiple factors, including how aggressively his opponents continue to push the corruption allegations despite the case being dismissed, whether Hochul decides to take action against him, or if she waits for further developments, and whether Trump’s involvement (or lack thereof) continues to fuel speculation and criticism.

Sharpton’s high-profile intervention is significant because it signals that Adams still has influential allies willing to defend him against both legal and political attacks. However, as The New York Post report emphasized, this does not mean that Adams is in the clear—his reputation has been damaged, and the specter of reinstated charges remains a real possibility.