Top Manhattan Prosecutor Resigns Over Order to Drop Eric Adams Case
In a stunning development, Danielle Sassoon, the acting U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York, has resigned along with several other high-ranking Justice Department officials. This mass exodus comes after Sassoon refused an order to drop corruption charges against New York City Mayor Eric Adams.
Key Points:
Sassoon and at least five other DOJ officials resigned on Thursday, February 14, 2025. The resignations followed a directive from the Trump administration to dismiss the corruption case against NYC Mayor Eric Adams. Sassoon accused the DOJ of agreeing to a “quid pro quo” with Adams’ lawyers. The case’s dismissal is allegedly tied to Adams’ potential assistance with Trump’s immigration agenda.
What Happened?
On Monday, February 10, acting Deputy Attorney General Emil Bove ordered Sassoon to drop the corruption case against Mayor Adams “as soon as practicable.” Sassoon, however, refused to comply with this directive, leading to a tense standoff between her office and DOJ leadership.
In an eight-page letter to Attorney General Pam Bondi, Sassoon laid out her objections to dropping the case. She stated that she was “confident” Adams had committed the crimes outlined in his indictment and even more. Sassoon also revealed that prosecutors were preparing to charge Adams with destroying evidence and instructing others to do the same.
The Alleged Quid Pro Quo
Sassoon’s letter accused Adams’ lawyers of offering what amounted to a “quid pro quo” during a meeting with Justice Department officials in Washington last month. The alleged deal involved Adams providing assistance to the White House on immigration matters in exchange for dropping the case.
“It is a breathtaking and dangerous precedent to reward Adams’s opportunistic and shifting commitments on immigration and other policy matters with dismissal of a criminal indictment,” Sassoon wrote. However, Adams’ lawyer, Alex Spiro, denied these claims, calling them a “total lie.”
The Fallout
The resignations extend beyond Sassoon. John Keller, the acting head of the Public Integrity Section, and Kevin Driscoll, the senior-most career official in the criminal division, also stepped down. In response to Sassoon’s resignation, Bove criticized her leadership, stating that the office had “demonstrated itself to be incapable of fairly and impartially reviewing the circumstances of this prosecution.”
Background on the Adams Case
The Justice Department brought public corruption charges against Adams last year, marking the first prosecution of a sitting mayor in New York City’s modern history. Adams pleaded not guilty, and the case was set to go to trial this spring.
The indictment alleged that Adams’ illegal actions dated back to 2014 when he was Brooklyn Borough President. Prosecutors accused Adams of receiving luxury travel benefits from a Turkish official in exchange for pressuring a New York City Fire Department official to grant permits for a Turkish consular building that had failed inspection.
Why It Matters
This situation raises serious questions about the independence of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of New York, often considered one of the most prestigious and independent prosecutor’s offices in the country. The apparent political interference in an ongoing corruption case against a sitting mayor is unprecedented and could have far-reaching implications for the justice system and political landscape.
The resignations of high-ranking DOJ officials also highlight the internal turmoil within the department and the potential erosion of its traditional independence from political influence. As this story continues to develop, it will likely fuel debates about the role of politics in the justice system and the balance of power between local and federal authorities.
