Seven Federal Prosecutors Resign Over Controversial Order to Drop NYC Mayor Eric Adams Corruption Case

New York – At least seven federal prosecutors, including acting U.S. Attorney Danielle Sassoon, have resigned in protest following a directive from the Trump administration's Justice Department to dismiss a corruption case against New York City Mayor Eric Adams. The resignations, which unfolded in mid-February 2025, signify a significant internal rebellion against perceived political interference in federal law enforcement.

The controversy centers on the federal indictment of Mayor Eric Adams, who faced charges of bribery, fraud, and soliciting illegal foreign campaign donations since September 2024. Prosecutors alleged Adams received lavish travel perks and illegal contributions from Turkish nationals, and pressured a city department to grant permits for a Turkish consular building. Adams had pleaded not guilty to all charges.

Acting Deputy Attorney General Emil Bove, a former personal lawyer for President Donald Trump, ordered the dismissal of the case, citing that the prosecution "unduly restricted Mayor Adams’ ability to devote full attention and resources to illegal immigration and violent crime." However, Sassoon, in a letter to Attorney General Pam Bondi, accused Adams's lawyers of proposing a "quid pro quo," suggesting Adams would assist with the administration's immigration priorities if the indictment were dropped.

Danielle Sassoon, a conservative lawyer with a background including clerking for Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia and prosecuting the Sam Bankman-Fried case, refused to comply with the order. She stated she saw no "good faith" reason for dropping the case and believed Adams had committed the charged crimes. Her resignation was quickly followed by others, including John Keller, acting head of the Public Integrity Section, and Kevin Driscoll, a senior official in the Criminal Division.

The mass resignations sparked widespread alarm among legal experts and officials, who viewed the Justice Department's actions as undermining judicial independence. New York Governor Kathy Hochul described the department's involvement as "unbelievably unprecedented," while New York Attorney General Letitia James lauded Sassoon as a "profile in courage." The tweet from Richard Hanania, stating, "This is the woman who resigned over Trump’s corrupt dealings with Eric Adams. ... The movement selects against integrity. Good for Manhattan," reflected a sentiment among some that Sassoon’s actions upheld integrity against political pressure.

Despite the Justice Department's request to dismiss the case "without prejudice"—allowing for future re-indictment—federal judge Dale Ho ultimately dismissed the corruption case against Mayor Adams "with prejudice" in early April 2025. This ruling prevents Adams from facing further prosecution on the same charges, effectively ending the legal battle while the controversy surrounding the Justice Department's intervention continues to draw scrutiny.