On Monday, February 10, 2025, acting U.S. Deputy Attorney General Emil Bove reportedly requested federal prosecutors in New York drop corruption charges levied against Mayor Eric Adams. The request would reportedly dismiss the charges without prejudice, leaving the door open for the charges to be refiled in the future.
The office of the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York nor the office of the Commissioner of the New York City Department of Investigation (“DOI”) have issued a statement regarding the request.
On September 26, 2024, the U.S. Attorney’s Office, Southern District of New York, unsealed a 57-page federal indictment charging Adams with bribery, campaign finance, and conspiracy offenses. More specifically, Adams is accused of receiving more than $100,000 worth of free plane tickets and luxury hotel stays from Turkish luminaries in an alleged corruption scheme dating back nearly a decade.
“As alleged, Mayor Adams abused his position as this City’s highest elected official, and before that as Brooklyn Borough President, to take bribes and solicit illegal campaign contributions,” said U.S. Attorney Damian Williams. “By allegedly taking improper and illegal benefits from foreign nationals—including to allow a Manhattan skyscraper to open without a fire inspection—Adams put the interests of his benefactors, including a foreign official, above those of his constituents. This Office and our partners at the FBI and DOI will continue to pursue corruption anywhere in this City, especially when that corruption takes the form of illegal foreign influence on our democratic system.”
Adams denied the charges levied against him and pleaded not guilty. In a statement, he referred to accusations of corruption as “lies.”
“Now, if I am charged, many may say I should resign because I cannot manage the city while fighting the case,” Adams said in September. “I can also understand how everyday New Yorkers would be concerned that I cannot do my job while I face accusations. But I have been facing these lies for months since I began to speak out for all of you and their investigation started—yet the city has continued to improve. Make no mistake: you elected me to lead this city—and lead it I will.”
Adams is currently running for re-election as mayor of the nation’s most populated city. According to last week’s poll from Emerson College, PIX11, and The Hill, Adams sits in second place behind Andrew Cuomo, who sits nearly 25 points ahead of the incumbent.
