‘Justice is dead in America’: Mayoral candidates react to DOJ direction to drop Eric Adams’ corruption charges

As news broke Monday evening that the Justice Department was moving to dismiss the corruption charges against New York City Mayor Eric Adams, the field of candidates looking to oust him erupted with outrage.

In a memo sent to the Southern District of New York obtained by The New York Times, acting Deputy Attorney General Emil Bove directed Danielle Sassoon, the acting United States attorney for SDNY, to dismiss the charges against Adams “as soon as is practicable.” Bove, a former SDNY prosecutor-turned Trump top justice appointee, said the order is a dismissal without prejudice, meaning it is not at all related to the merits of the case or strength of the evidence, rather, that the case should be dropped for now because it has restricted Adams’ ability to “devote full attention and resources” to undocumented immigration and crime that “escalated” under the Biden Administration. The case may have also “improperly interfered" with Adams’ ongoing reelection campaign, Bove wrote. The letter also directs SDNY to not consider the case again until after the November mayoral election.

The move comes as critics have accused Adams of cozying up to Trump in pursuit of a pardon or seeking to have the case dismissed. Adams, like Trump in his own legal issues, has cast the case against him as political retribution – in Adams’ case, for criticizing the Biden administration on its migrant policies. 

Adams’ attorney Alex Spiro confirmed that the Department of Justice has said that the case should not proceed. “As I said from the outset, the mayor is innocent – and he would prevail. Today he has,” Spiro said in a statement. “The Department of Justice has reevaluated this case and determined it should not go forward. There is good reason for that. The facts of the case are clear: the mayor never used his official position for personal benefit. Nor did he have any role in violating campaign finance laws. Despite a lot of fanfare and sensational claims, ultimately there was no evidence presented that he broke any laws, ever. The witnesses that were promised never materialized. The additional charges that were threatened never came. Now, thankfully, the mayor and New York can put this unfortunate and misguided prosecution behind them.”

In its memo to federal prosecutors, however, Bove said that the Justice Department reached its conclusion “without assessing the strength of the evidence or the legal theories on which the case is based” and said that it “in no way calls into question” the integrity of the prosecutors. 

It’s a potential turning point in Adams' political future. The storied Manhattan federal prosecutors office has a long history of independence from Washington. All eyes will no doubt be on Sassoon and whether she’ll comply by asking a judge to dismiss the case. 

Here’s how Adams’ competitors for mayor have reacted.

New York City Comptroller Brad Lander

“Today, Mayor Adams instructed his top officials not to criticize Donald Trump. And now we know why,” New York City comptroller Brad Lander said, pointing to a meeting reported by The City earlier today. “Instead of standing up for New Yorkers, Adams is standing up for precisely one person – and that’s himself. New Yorkers deserve better.”

State. Sen. Zellnor Myrie

“If there was any doubt left, today’s news makes it clear that justice is dead in America. The decision by Trump’s Department of Justice to drop charges against Eric Adams should outrage every single New Yorker,” said state Sen. Zellnor Myrie. “We already know that Eric Adams has sacrificed the safety and sanctity of our schools and public hospitals to curry favor with this fascist Administration. How many more of our rights and freedoms did the mayor give up to save his own skin? New Yorkers are tired of our leaders skirting accountability. We are tired of the status quo. We are tired of living in a city that has no direction, no focus and no answer to the affordability crisis so many of us feel. The leaders of the past have not solved our problems; and continually put their own interests and desire for power above what’s best for New Yorkers. Enough is enough.”

Former comptroller Scott Stringer

"The only New Yorker breathing a sigh of relief tonight is Eric Adams,” former New York City comptroller Scott Stringer said in a statement. The rest of us are facing unaffordable housing and childcare costs and rising crime and disorder. But thankfully, New Yorkers – not the president – get to decide who is mayor next year. We need a mayor who will fight every day to deliver for New Yorkers, making our city safe and more affordable. I hope that now we can move on from what Eric Adams wants and focus on what New York City needs."

State Sen. Jessica Ramos

“Eric Adams sold out New Yorkers to buy his own freedom, but he’ll never escape the label of worst mayor in NYC history,” state Sen. Jessica Ramos said. “Donald Trump may think this buys him access to terrorize our communities, but New Yorkers always stand up for one another, no matter how many corrupt narcissists try to hurt our families.”

Assembly Member Zohran Mamdani

“Congratulations to Mayor Adams on his shameless effort to avoid legal accountability and sell out the city he swore to serve in the midst of an all-out federal assault on its fundamental values,” Mamdani said in a statement. “Election Day can’t come soon enough.”

Attorney Jim Walden

“The Dept of Justice directed prosecutors to dismiss the case against @NYCMayor. This is not a surprise to anyone,” attorney and (so far) independent candidate Jim Walden posted on X. “The claim that Adams was prosecuted for political reasons is just plain silly. The move will not save him at the ballot box. When I am Mayor, New Yorkers will have confidence in the integrity of City Hall again – after a decade of corruption.”

Former Assembly Member Michael Blake

“Vice President Eric Adams only cares about Donald Trump,” said former Assembly Member Michael Blake. “The mayor is trying to divide us. He kissed the ring and sniveled his way out of legal trouble.”

Former hedge fund manager Whitney Tilson

“Eric Adams is corrupt and an embarrassment to New York City. He should be sleeping in a jail cell, not hiding in a taxpayer-funded mansion on the Upper East Side,” Tilson said. “He sold out New York to kiss Trump’s ass so he could avoid the consequences of his actions. Eric Adams needs to be held accountable for his crimes and the widespread corruption in City Hall. As a New Yorker, I am ashamed that he is our Mayor.”