The U.S. Justice Department has directed prosecutors to abandon the corruption charges against New York City Mayor Eric Adams. A memo, obtained by the BBC's U.S. affiliate CBS, reveals that Acting Deputy Attorney General Emil Bove, appointed by former President Donald Trump, has called for the Southern District of New York to cease pursuing the allegations against the mayor.
Adams faced five serious charges, including bribery, conspiracy, and violations of campaign finance laws, after being indicted in September. Currently, he maintains his innocence, having pleaded not guilty. The accusations stem from claims that Adams received illegal campaign contributions and extravagant travel benefits worth thousands from Turkish businessmen and an official, reportedly in exchange for using his influence as the mayor.
At this time, federal prosecutors have not confirmed whether they will comply with the DOJ’s request. Should they choose to drop the case, the decision would need to be presented to the court for judicial approval.
The memo comes on the heels of a recent meeting between Adams' legal team and federal prosecutors. The mayor, who is a Democrat, has sought to strengthen his ties with Trump and his administration, even attending the recent presidential inauguration and traveling to Florida for discussions. Despite these connections, Adams asserts that he has not engaged in discussions with Trump regarding his ongoing corruption case.
This developing story will be updated as more information becomes available. For instant updates, follow the alerts on social media or through mobile news apps.
