Judge dismisses New York mayor’s corruption case, slams Trump administration ‘bargain’

NEW YORK: A U.S. judge dismissed corruption charges against New York City Mayor Eric Adams on Wednesday, even as he said the Trump administration’s argument that the case should be dropped because it was hindering the Democratic politician’s help with an immigration crackdown “smacks of a bargain.”

The Justice Department’s request in February that the case be dismissed because it was distracting the mayor from helping Republican U.S. President Donald Trump step up deportations sent shockwaves through the politics of the most populous U.S. city and prompted eight federal prosecutors to resign over concerns the administration was violating longstanding norms by allowing political considerations to influence prosecutorial decisions.

In a 78-page ruling on Wednesday, U.S. District Judge Dale Ho in Manhattan said he had little choice but to dismiss the indictment because U.S. courts lack the authority to compel prosecutors to pursue charges. But he said the Justice Department’s decision to seek dismissal of the charges was troubling because an individual’s criminal liability should not depend on whether they support the administration’s policies.

“Everything here smacks of a bargain: dismissal of the Indictment in exchange for immigration policy concessions,” the judge wrote. Adams, 64, pleaded not guilty last September to charges of accepting bribes and illegal campaign contributions from Turkish officials in exchange for favors, including pressuring fire officials to let Turkey open a new Manhattan consulate despite safety concerns.