NEW YORK, USA — A federal judge on Wednesday, April 2, 2025, permanently dismissed corruption charges against New York City Mayor Eric Adams, ending a high-profile case that had loomed over the mayor’s administration.
The U.S. Department of Justice had previously sought to have the case dismissed in February, arguing that allowing it to proceed would hamper the mayor’s ability to govern and potentially disrupt “federal immigration initiatives and policies.”
The Justice Department requested that the dismissal be made “without prejudice,” which would have allowed prosecutors to revive the case at a future date.
However, the judge rejected that request, instead dismissing the charges “with prejudice,” effectively barring the federal government from bringing the same charges against Mayor Adams again.
Neither the Department of Justice nor the mayor’s office immediately responded to requests for comment following the ruling.
Mayor Adams has consistently denied any wrongdoing since the charges were filed.
The dismissal marks a significant legal victory for the mayor as he continues to navigate challenges at City Hall.
In February, federal judge has vacated the upcoming criminal trial date for New York City Mayor Eric Adams but declined to dismiss the corruption and bribery case against him, leaving the high-profile prosecution in a state of uncertainty as political and legal tensions intensify.
In a ruling, U.S. District Judge Dale Ho cancelled the April 21 trial date, citing the “unusual fact patterns” surrounding the case.
However, instead of granting the Justice Department’s request to withdraw the charges, Judge Ho appointed former U.S. Solicitor General Paul Clement, a prominent conservative attorney, to argue whether dismissing the case would serve the public interest.
“Normally, courts are aided in their decision-making through our system of adversarial testing, which can be particularly helpful in cases presenting unusual fact patterns or in cases of great public importance,” Judge Ho wrote in his order.
The decision ensures that the charges against Adams—including bribery, wire fraud, foreign donation violations, and corruption—remain in place for now.
The Justice Department moved in February to dismiss the indictment, asserting that prosecuting Adams would impair the Trump administration’s immigration agenda in New York City.
But Judge Ho’s order suggests that he is unwilling to simply accept that rationale without further examination.
Resignations and Internal Turmoil at DOJ
The Justice Department’s attempt to terminate the prosecution has triggered a wave of internal dissent and resignations.
Eight federal prosecutors—including the interim U.S. attorney for the Southern District of New York—have stepped down in protest over the department’s motion to drop the charges.
Sources within the Justice Department described an atmosphere of deep frustration and alarm over what some perceived as political interference in a high-profile corruption case.
The upheaval has extended beyond the federal government. In recent weeks, four deputy mayors have resigned from City Hall, underscoring the escalating political fallout surrounding the case.
Acting Deputy Attorney General Emil Bove, a former personal attorney to Donald Trump, defended the department’s decision earlier this week, maintaining that the prosecution would disrupt the Trump administration’s immigration priorities.
“DOJ headquarters has prosecutorial discretion, and a prosecution of Adams interferes with the Trump administration’s immigration initiatives in New York City,” Bove said.
Bove rejected allegations that the Justice Department had engaged in a quid pro quo arrangement with Mayor Adams to secure the dismissal.
