DOJ Drops Politically Motivated Charges Against NYC Mayor

The Justice Department ordered Manhattan prosecutors Monday to dismiss the historic bribery case against Mayor Eric Adams — siding with Hizzoner that the charges under the Biden administration were politically motivated and hampered his ability to combat the migrant crisis in New York City, The NYPost has confirmed.

The new DOJ under President Donald Trump instructed the Southern District of New York to dismiss the case without prejudice, meaning charges could be re-filed in the future.

“You are directed, as authorized by the Attorney General, to dismiss the pending charges” against Adams, Acting Deputy Attorney General Emil Bove wrote in a letter obtained by The Post.

The letter notes “independent reasons” as to why Adams’ case was being tossed — including that the case was retribution for him speaking out against the Biden administration for its handling of the migrant crisis.

“It cannot be ignored that Mayor Adams criticized the prior Administration’s immigration policies before the charges were filed, and the former US Attorney’s public actions created appearances of impropriety…”

Bove wrote that the charges have “improperly interfered with Mayor Adams’ campaign in the 2025 mayoral election” and also has “unduly restricted Mayor Adams’ ability to devote full attention and resources to the illegal immigration and violent crime that escalated under the policies of the prior Administration.”

The immigration crackdown is a focus out of Trump out of the gate in his second term, and Adams has signaled a willingness to support harsh measures – including rolling back sanctuary city policies – that are anathema to many of his Democratic counterparts.

Adams on Monday night offered a measured reaction to the news, telling a Fox News reporter while out to dinner with the owner of Talk 77 WABC and supermarket mogul John Catsimatidis that he had little information.

“We were just notified of the possibility that the DOJ has communicated with the local US Attorney’s Office here,” he said, according to video posted on X. “I would like to speak to [my lawyer] first and get a better understanding of exactly what’s taking place now because right now I don’t have any information.”

The stunning turn of events appears to signal the end of the years-long criminal probe into Adams’ 2021 mayoral campaign that has hung over Hizzoner’s head during his scandal-plagued first term in office.

Adams, 64, who was indicted in September, was accused of accepting thousands of dollars in free or upgraded luxury travel as bribes from foreign nationals in exchange for political favors, including helping fast-track the opening of the Turkish Consulate in Manhattan.

The Democratic mayor quickly denied the accusations and cast the prosecution as political retribution from the former Biden administration for speaking out on the migrant crisis.