NEW YORK (AP) 鈥� A federal judge dismissed New York City Mayor Eric Adams鈥� corruption case on Wednesday, agreeing it was the only practical outcome while blasting the Justice Department鈥檚 鈥渢roubling鈥� rationale thrown out 鈥� namely so the Democrat could help President Donald Trump鈥檚 immigration crackdown.
The judge, though, denied prosecutors the option to refile the charges after the mayoral election. order to dismiss the case 鈥渨ith prejudice鈥� spares Adams from having to govern in a way that pleases Trump or potentially risk having the Republican's Justice Department revive the charges.
The judge said he wasn't opining on the merits of the case, but that courts can't force prosecutors to move forward. Still, he expressed qualms about the government's move, saying 鈥渢here are many reasons to be troubled鈥� by its reasoning.
鈥淓verything here smacks of a bargain: dismissal of the indictment in exchange for immigration policy concessions,鈥� Ho wrote. He said he found it 鈥渄isturbing鈥� that public officials might get special treatment from prosecutors by complying with policy goals.
He rejected an alternative the Justice Department 鈥� dismissing the case 鈥渨ithout prejudice,鈥� which would have left room for the charges to be refiled.
鈥淒ismissing the case without prejudice would create the unavoidable perception that the mayor鈥檚 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,鈥� the judge wrote.
The mayor claims victory
Adams lauded the judge鈥檚 decision during brief remarks outside the mayoral residence.
鈥淎s I said all along, this case never should have been brought, and I did nothing wrong," he said.
鈥淚 have always been solely beholden to the people of this city,鈥� the mayor added. 鈥淣o special interests, no political opponents, but just everyday New Yorkers, just you.鈥�
Asked about his chances for reelection, Adams said: "I鈥檓 gonna win."
He closed by holding up a copy and encouraging people to read FBI Director Kash Patel鈥檚 2023 book 鈥淕overnment Gangsters," which alleged a 鈥渟inister cabal鈥� at the heart of government.
The Justice Department said in a statement that Adams' case had been 鈥渁n example of political weaponization and a waste of resources.鈥�
Ho鈥檚 decision follows a legal drama that roiled the Justice Department, created turmoil in City Hall and left Adams鈥� mayoralty hanging by a thread amid questions about his political independence and ability to govern.
Several prosecutors in New York and Washington quit rather than carry out the Justice Department's directive to drop the case against Adams.
After four of Adams鈥� top deputies decided to resign, Gov. Kathy Hochul of ousting a New York City mayor. The governor, a fellow Democrat, ultimately concluded it would be undemocratic and disruptive to do so and for city government.
At a Feb. 19 hearing, Adams told Ho: 鈥淚 have not committed a crime.鈥�
The basis for the case
Adams to bribery and other charges after a accused him of accepting illegal campaign contributions and travel discounts from a Turkish official and others 鈥� 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 Trump鈥檚 Justice Department . Ho while considering what to do, Paul Clement.
Ho's decision comes about three months before a Democratic primary that will likely choose the New York's next mayor.
Adams faces a large field of challengers, including former Gov. Andrew Cuomo and several Democrats who for New Yorkers to be sure he鈥檒l prioritize their interests. Adams has said he's 鈥渟olely beholden to the 8.3 million New Yorkers that I represent, and I will always put this city first.鈥�
As recently as Jan. 6, Manhattan federal prosecutors wrote in court papers that they continued to 鈥渦ncover additional criminal conduct by Adams.鈥� But a month later, their new Washington superiors decided to abandon the case.
In court filings and a hearing, then-acting Deputy Attorney General Emil Bove said he was "particularly concerned about the impact of the prosecution on Mayor Adams鈥� ability to support鈥� Trump鈥檚 immigration objectives. Bove also questioned the prior administration鈥檚 motives in pursuing Adams, who had criticized Biden鈥檚 handling of immigration.
The Trump administration鈥檚 acting U.S. attorney in New York, Danielle Sassoon, resisted Bove鈥檚 order, saying she couldn鈥檛 defend a dismissal linked to political considerations.
Sassoon and several other career prosecutors .
Adams, a retired police captain and former state lawmaker and Brooklyn official, was elected in 2021 as a centrist Democrat in a liberal stronghold. Since his indictment, Adams has with Trump, telling mayoral staffers not to criticize the president publicly.
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Associated Press reporters Joseph B. Frederick and Larry Neumeister in New York, Anthony Izaguirre in Albany and Alanna Durkin Richer in Washington contributed.
Jennifer Peltz And Michael R. Sisak, The Associated Press
