Justice Department orders New York Mayor Eric Adams charges to be withdrawn

Despite a lot of fanfare and sensational claims, ultimately there was no evidence presented that he broke any laws, ever,

he added

I know what it’s like to be persecuted by the DOJ, for speaking out against open borders,

Trump said in October at a Manhattan event attended by Adams

I was persecuted, and so are you, Eric,

he said

There shall be no further targeting of Mayor Adams or additional investigative steps prior to that review, and you are further directed to take all steps within your power to cause Mayor Adams’s security clearances to be restored."

In the letter, Deputy Attorney General Emil Bove said

You are directed, as authorized by the Attorney General, to dismiss the pending charges in United States v. Adams...as soon as is practicable,

Bove wrote

I’m looking forward to the next four years of having a president that loves the city like I love this city,

Adams said the day after the meeting

As I said from the outset, the mayor is innocent—and he would prevail,

Alex Spiro, the mayor’s attorney, said in a statement

The pending prosecution 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 letter from Bove reads

We went off to the corner to have a diet coke and talk a little. And I get the breaking news on my phone and I turned the phone and I showed it to him,

Catsimatidis said in an interview

The ‘leave of court’ requirement exists precisely to guard against the dubious, perhaps corrupt, dismissal of cases against powerful and well-connected defendants,

said Thomas Frampton, an associate law professor at the University of Virginia

I think politically this is very questionable and challenging,

the prominent civil rights leader and MSNBC host said

It looked like a thousand pounds of bricks off his shoulders.”

When Adams got the news, he said

We are particularly concerned about the impact of the prosecution on Mayor Adams’ ability to to support critical, ongoing federal efforts ‘to protect the American people from the disastrous effects of unlawful mass migration and resettlement,

Bove wrote, quoting one of Trump’s executive orders

Adrienne Adams (politician)city Council Speaker

Some that should be here celebrating Dr. King with us in this room have chosen to go to Washington to celebrate felon 47,

New York City Council Speaker Adrienne Adams — one of New York City’s highest ranking Black politicians — said to cheers during one MLK event