The U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) is moving to drop the federal corruption case against New York City Mayor Eric Adams, according to reports.
The case had made Adams the first sitting mayor in the city’s modern history to face federal public corruption charges. However, the latest decision could mean a potential end to the legal battle—at least for now.
A memo, issued by acting Deputy Attorney General Emil Bove, directed acting U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York, Danielle Sassoon, to dismiss the charges “as soon as is practicable.”
However, the dismissal comes with conditions, including a post-election review by the Southern District after the November 2025 mayoral race. While Adams may be off the hook for now, the case could be revisited in the future.
The charges against Adams stemmed from allegations of bribery, fraud, and abuse of power, accusing him of accepting $100,000 in gifts, including free plane tickets and luxury hotel stays from Turkish businessmen and at least one foreign government official over nearly ten years. Federal prosecutors indicted him in September 2024.
Despite the indictment, Adams has consistently denied any wrongdoing, maintaining that the charges were politically motivated. He pleaded not guilty and vowed to fight the allegations.
Adams now appears ready to refocus on governing New York City, though the DOJ’s decision to drop the case ‘without prejudice’ means federal prosecutors still have the option to refile charges in the future.
A dismissal would still require formal approval by the Southern District of New York, along with a judge’s review of the motion. Federal prosecutors in Manhattan have yet to issue a public statement on the matter.
