Judge dismisses corruption case against New York City Mayor Eric Adams

I look forward to defending myself, New York City mayor Eric Adams, once *** rising star in the Democratic Party now faces *** five count federal indictment. The conduct alleged in the indictment, the foreign money, the corporate money, the bribery, the years of concealment is *** grave breach of the public's trust. Prosecutors say Adams sold his office in exchange for thousands of dollars in illegal donations from foreign nationals along with gifts, luxury travel and premium hotel rooms. Adams forcefully denied the allegations, the leaks, the commentary demonizing and I asked New Yorkers to wait to hear our defense before making any judgments. The indictment lays out *** decade long scheme by Adams stretching back to his time as Brooklyn borough president. Since then, prosecutors say Adams solicited donations from Turkish nationals in violation of campaign finance laws. The indictment lays out *** number of alleged instances like one where *** staffer is communicating around *** potential $100,000 donation writing. I think he wouldn't get involved in such games. They might cause *** big stink. Later on, the Adams staffer allegedly responded, I'll ask anyways, Adams knew that these wealthy individuals could not legally donate in *** US election. Prosecutors allege Adams tried to hide the donations by funneling them through straw donors. The money multiplied by thousands of dollars in taxpayer funded matching funds once he took office, prosecutors say Adams used his power to pressure agencies to take favorable action to benefit Turkish officials. In one instance, the mayor directed the fire department to facilitate the opening of the new Turkish consulate which had failed to pass safety inspections. This building was important to the Turkish official and it was important to Turkey. Turkish officials under pressure from an impending visit by the Turkish president allegedly asked Adams to intervene. The building opened without incident. Prosecutors allege Adams took multiple trips to India, France, China and Ghana making critical stops in Turkey at one point, texting his partner, you know, first stop is always Istanbul during the trips, Adam stayed in luxury accommodations for free or at *** steep discount. According to prosecutors, he asked to pay *** nominal fee for all of this in order to disguise what we allege were. In fact bribes. The indictment also lays out how Adams would keep with an email that suggested that he left at *** minimum. Well, over $10,000 in cash in the Adams schedulers desk drawer to send to Turkish Airlines. When he learned federal prosecutors were investigating. Adams allegedly tried to conceal the evidence, directing staffers to delete messages. Federal agents spent more than three hours inside Adams's residence. This Morning Adams was named in the indictment. But since news of the investigations and impending charges broke into the open, several officials have tendered their resignations leaving critical agencies without steady leaders from here. My attorneys will take care of the case so I can take care of the city.

A federal judge dismissed New York City Mayor Eric Adams바카라 게임 웹사이트� corruption case on Wednesday, acquiescing to the Justice Department's extraordinary request to set aside criminal charges so the Democrat could help with President Donald Trump바카라 게임 웹사이트�s immigration crackdown.The judge, though, denied prosecutors the ability to potentially bring the criminal case back after the mayoral election. Judge Dale E. Ho바카라 게임 웹사이트�s order to dismiss the case 바카라 게임 웹사이트�with prejudice바카라 게임 웹사이트� spares Adams from having to govern in a way that pleases Trump, or potentially risk having the Republican's Justice Department revive the charges.바카라 게임 웹사이트�In light of DOJ바카라 게임 웹사이트�s rationales, dismissing the case without prejudice would create the unavoidable perception that the Mayor바카라 게임 웹사이트�s freedom depends on his ability to carry out the immigration enforcement priorities of the administration, and that he might be more beholden to the demands of the federal government than to the wishes of his own constituents,바카라 게임 웹사이트� the judge wrote.바카라 게임 웹사이트�To be clear, the Court again emphasizes that it does not express any opinion as to the merits of the case or whether the prosecution of Mayor Adams 바카라 게임 웹사이트�should바카라 게임 웹사이트� move forward," Ho wrote.Ho acknowledged that his power in this situation was limited, writing that courts cannot 바카라 게임 웹사이트�force the Department of Justice to prosecute a defendant.바카라 게임 웹사이트�바카라 게임 웹사이트�That is by design. In our constitutional system of separation of powers, a court바카라 게임 웹사이트�s role in a criminal case is to preside over the matter 바카라 게임 웹사이트� not to decide whether the defendant should be prosecuted,바카라 게임 웹사이트� he wrote.Ho바카라 게임 웹사이트�s decision came just days after Adams바카라 게임 웹사이트� attorney urged the judge to issue a ruling in the case, noting that Adams has a busy reelection campaign ahead and was nearing a deadline to submit petitions to get on the city바카라 게임 웹사이트�s primary ballot. It follows a legal drama that roiled the Justice Department, created turmoil in City Hall and left Adams바카라 게임 웹사이트� mayoralty hanging by a thread amid questions about his political independence and ability to govern.Several prosecutors in New York and Washington resigned rather than carry out the Justice Department's directive to drop the case against Adams. Gov. Kathy Hochul, a fellow Democrat, pondered whether to remove Adams from office but decided instead to propose new oversight for city government.At a Feb. 19 hearing, Adams told Ho: 바카라 게임 웹사이트�I have not committed a crime.바카라 게임 웹사이트�Adams had pleaded not guilty to bribery and other charges after a 2024 indictment accused him of accepting illegal campaign contributions and travel discounts from a Turkish official and others 바카라 게임 웹사이트� and returning the favors by, among other things, helping Turkey open a diplomatic building without passing fire inspections.The case, brought during President Joe Biden's administration, was on track for an April trial until Trump바카라 게임 웹사이트�s Justice Department moved to drop it. Ho delayed the trial and appointed former U.S. Solicitor General Paul Clement to assist him in deciding what to do.The Justice Department had wanted the option to revive the case in the fall. Adams바카라 게임 웹사이트� lawyers wanted it gone for good.In a written submission on March 7, Clement told Ho he had no choice under the law but to dismiss the case. But he recommended that the judge reject the Justice Department바카라 게임 웹사이트�s request to be able to refile them after this year바카라 게임 웹사이트�s mayoral election, which would leave 바카라 게임 웹사이트�a prospect that hangs like the proverbial Sword of Damocles over the accused.바카라 게임 웹사이트�The decision comes with three months to go until a Democratic primary that is likely to chose the city's next mayor.Adams faces a large field of challengers, including former Gov. Andrew Cuomo and several Democrats who say he바카라 게임 웹사이트�s now too indebted to Trump for New Yorkers to be sure he바카라 게임 웹사이트�ll prioritize their interests. Adams has said he's 바카라 게임 웹사이트�solely beholden to the 8.3 million New Yorkers that I represent, and I will always put this city first.바카라 게임 웹사이트�As recently as Jan. 6, the assistant U.S. attorneys in New York who were prosecuting Adams wrote in court papers that they continued to 바카라 게임 웹사이트�uncover additional criminal conduct by Adams.바카라 게임 웹사이트� But a month later, their new superiors in Washington decided to abandon the case.In court filings and a hearing, acting Deputy Attorney General Emil Bove has said he was "particularly concerned about the impact of the prosecution on Mayor Adams바카라 게임 웹사이트� ability to support바카라 게임 웹사이트� Trump바카라 게임 웹사이트�s immigration objectives. Bove also has questioned the prior administration바카라 게임 웹사이트�s motives in pursuing Adams, who had criticized then-President Joe Biden바카라 게임 웹사이트�s handling of an influx of migrants.The Trump administration바카라 게임 웹사이트�s acting U.S. attorney in New York, Danielle Sassoon, resisted Bove바카라 게임 웹사이트�s order, saying she couldn바카라 게임 웹사이트�t defend a dismissal linked to political considerations.Sassoon and several other career prosecutors and supervisors of public corruption cases quit rather than follow Bove바카라 게임 웹사이트�s order. Bove put other New York-based prosecutors involved in the Adams case on a paid leave.Bove and two senior Justice Department lawyers ultimately signed court papers requesting a dismissal with the option to refile the charges after the November election.After four of Adams바카라 게임 웹사이트� top deputies at City Hall decided to resign, Hochul briefly considered taking the unprecedented step of ousting a New York City mayor. She ultimately concluded it would be undemocratic and disruptive to do so.Adams, a retired police captain and former state lawmaker and Brooklyn official, was elected in 2021 as a centrist Democrat in one of the United States바카라 게임 웹사이트� liberal strongholds. But since his indictment in September, Adams has cultivated a warmer relationship with Trump, telling his staff not to criticize the president publicly and making media appearances with administration officials.Adams insists that just he바카라 게임 웹사이트�s looking out for the city by having a working relationship with the administration.

NEW YORK —

The judge, though, denied prosecutors the ability to potentially bring the criminal case back after the mayoral election. Judge Dale E. Ho바카라 게임 웹사이트�s order to dismiss the case 바카라 게임 웹사이트�with prejudice바카라 게임 웹사이트� spares Adams from having to govern in a way that pleases Trump, or potentially risk having the Republican's Justice Department revive the charges.

바카라 게임 웹사이트�In light of DOJ바카라 게임 웹사이트�s rationales, dismissing the case without prejudice would create the unavoidable perception that the Mayor바카라 게임 웹사이트�s freedom depends on his ability to carry out the immigration enforcement priorities of the administration, and that he might be more beholden to the demands of the federal government than to the wishes of his own constituents,바카라 게임 웹사이트� the judge wrote.

바카라 게임 웹사이트�To be clear, the Court again emphasizes that it does not express any opinion as to the merits of the case or whether the prosecution of Mayor Adams 바카라 게임 웹사이트�should바카라 게임 웹사이트� move forward," Ho wrote.

Ho acknowledged that his power in this situation was limited, writing that courts cannot 바카라 게임 웹사이트�force the Department of Justice to prosecute a defendant.바카라 게임 웹사이트�

바카라 게임 웹사이트�That is by design. In our constitutional system of separation of powers, a court바카라 게임 웹사이트�s role in a criminal case is to preside over the matter 바카라 게임 웹사이트� not to decide whether the defendant should be prosecuted,바카라 게임 웹사이트� he wrote.

Ho바카라 게임 웹사이트�s decision came just days after Adams바카라 게임 웹사이트� attorney urged the judge to issue a ruling in the case, noting that Adams has a busy reelection campaign ahead and was nearing a deadline to submit petitions to get on the city바카라 게임 웹사이트�s primary ballot. It follows a legal drama that roiled the Justice Department, created turmoil in City Hall and left Adams바카라 게임 웹사이트� mayoralty hanging by a thread amid questions about his political independence and ability to govern.

Several prosecutors in New York and Washington resigned rather than carry out the Justice Department's directive to drop the case against Adams. Gov. Kathy Hochul, a fellow Democrat, pondered whether to remove Adams from office but decided instead to propose new oversight for city government.

At a Feb. 19 hearing, Adams told Ho: 바카라 게임 웹사이트�I have not committed a crime.바카라 게임 웹사이트�

Adams had pleaded not guilty to bribery and other charges after a 2024 indictment accused him of accepting illegal campaign contributions and travel discounts from a Turkish official and others 바카라 게임 웹사이트� and returning the favors by, among other things, helping Turkey open a diplomatic building without passing fire inspections.

The case, brought during President Joe Biden's administration, was on track for an April trial until Trump바카라 게임 웹사이트�s Justice Department moved to drop it. Ho delayed the trial and appointed former U.S. Solicitor General Paul Clement to assist him in deciding what to do.

The Justice Department had wanted the option to revive the case in the fall. Adams바카라 게임 웹사이트� lawyers wanted it gone for good.

In a written submission on March 7, Clement told Ho he had no choice under the law but to dismiss the case. But he recommended that the judge reject the Justice Department바카라 게임 웹사이트�s request to be able to refile them after this year바카라 게임 웹사이트�s mayoral election, which would leave 바카라 게임 웹사이트�a prospect that hangs like the proverbial Sword of Damocles over the accused.바카라 게임 웹사이트�

The decision comes with three months to go until a Democratic primary that is likely to chose the city's next mayor.

Adams faces a large field of challengers, including former Gov. Andrew Cuomo and several Democrats who say he바카라 게임 웹사이트�s now too indebted to Trump for New Yorkers to be sure he바카라 게임 웹사이트�ll prioritize their interests. Adams has said he's 바카라 게임 웹사이트�solely beholden to the 8.3 million New Yorkers that I represent, and I will always put this city first.바카라 게임 웹사이트�

As recently as Jan. 6, the assistant U.S. attorneys in New York who were prosecuting Adams wrote in court papers that they continued to 바카라 게임 웹사이트�uncover additional criminal conduct by Adams.바카라 게임 웹사이트� But a month later, their new superiors in Washington decided to abandon the case.

In court filings and a hearing, acting Deputy Attorney General Emil Bove has said he was "particularly concerned about the impact of the prosecution on Mayor Adams바카라 게임 웹사이트� ability to support바카라 게임 웹사이트� Trump바카라 게임 웹사이트�s immigration objectives. Bove also has questioned the prior administration바카라 게임 웹사이트�s motives in pursuing Adams, who had criticized then-President Joe Biden바카라 게임 웹사이트�s handling of an influx of migrants.

The Trump administration바카라 게임 웹사이트�s acting U.S. attorney in New York, Danielle Sassoon, resisted Bove바카라 게임 웹사이트�s order, saying she couldn바카라 게임 웹사이트�t defend a dismissal linked to political considerations.

Sassoon and several other career prosecutors and supervisors of public corruption cases quit rather than follow Bove바카라 게임 웹사이트�s order. Bove put other New York-based prosecutors involved in the Adams case on a paid leave.

Bove and two senior Justice Department lawyers ultimately signed court papers requesting a dismissal with the option to refile the charges after the November election.

After four of Adams바카라 게임 웹사이트� top deputies at City Hall decided to resign, Hochul briefly considered taking the unprecedented step of ousting a New York City mayor. She ultimately concluded it would be undemocratic and disruptive to do so.

Adams, a retired police captain and former state lawmaker and Brooklyn official, was elected in 2021 as a centrist Democrat in one of the United States바카라 게임 웹사이트� liberal strongholds. But since his indictment in September, Adams has cultivated a warmer relationship with Trump, telling his staff not to criticize the president publicly and making media appearances with administration officials.

Adams insists that just he바카라 게임 웹사이트�s looking out for the city by having a working relationship with the administration.

Judge dismisses corruption case against New York City Mayor Eric Adams

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