DOJ Officials Discuss Dropping Corruption Case Against Mayor Adams

Edited by: Fern Sidman

Senior Justice Department officials under President Donald Trump have engaged in discussions with federal prosecutors in Manhattan about potentially dropping the corruption case against New York City Mayor Eric Adams, according to a report on Wednesday in The New York Times. This development raises significant political and legal questions, given that Mayor Adams, a Democrat, has been facing bribery and fraud charges while simultaneously strengthening his ties with the Trump administration.

According to the information provided in The New York Times report, the Justice Department officials have not only conferred with Manhattan prosecutors but have also been in contact with Mayor Adams’s legal team since Trump took office. The mayor’s defense is being led by Alex Spiro, a high-profile attorney known for representing Elon Musk, who is both the world’s wealthiest individual and one of President Trump’s closest advisers. The involvement of Spiro adds another layer of political intrigue, especially as Trump has publicly voiced his discontent with the case against Adams, even suggesting that he might consider issuing a pardon.

President Trump retains the authority to pardon Adams, which could serve as a strategic move to secure the mayor’s support in implementing mass deportations. The New York Times report indicated that in December, Trump expressed his view that Adams had been treated “pretty unfairly” by federal prosecutors, a statement that fueled speculation about a possible intervention in the case. However, dropping the charges entirely—rather than issuing a presidential pardon—could be politically advantageous for both Trump and Adams. It would allow the mayor to continue asserting his innocence while sparing Trump from accusations of favoritism.

Spiro has pointed out to Justice Department officials that Trump has already criticized the case, implying that dropping the prosecution would align with the president’s public stance. Spiro has suggested that if Adams remains under indictment, he would be less likely to cooperate with Trump’s aggressive immigration enforcement policies. These arguments highlight the political leverage at play, with Adams potentially positioned as a key figure in the implementation of Trump’s agenda in New York City.

Meetings between Justice Department officials in Washington, Manhattan prosecutors, and Mayor Adams’s legal team are expected to take place as soon as this week, The New York Times report said. The outcomes of these discussions could have profound implications not only for Adams’s political future but also for Trump’s broader immigration strategy. At present, neither Spiro nor Adams has responded to media inquiries regarding the case.

Adams was indicted in September on charges of bribery, fraud, and soliciting illegal foreign campaign contributions, following an investigation that began in 2021. The mayor has maintained his innocence, arguing that the prosecution is politically motivated, rooted in his outspoken criticism of the Biden administration’s handling of the migrant crisis. However, federal prosecutors have strongly denied this claim, insisting that the case is based purely on legal grounds rather than political retaliation.

In recent weeks, Adams has moved closer to Trump politically, a shift that The New York Times has documented extensively. The mayor not only attended Trump’s inauguration but also held a private meeting with the president-elect near Mar-a-Lago. Furthermore, sources close to Adams have indicated that he and Trump have been in direct communication for weeks, speaking on the phone and fostering a working relationship.