US judge permanently dismisses Turkish corruption case against NYC Mayor Adams
New York City Mayor Eric Adams speaks during a press conference at City Hall in New York City, U.S. on March 11, 2025. (AFP Photo)
A U.S. judge on Wednesday permanently dismissed corruption charges against New York City Mayor Eric Adams, weeks after President Donald Trump’s administration moved to halt the unprecedented prosecution.
Judge Dale Ho granted the Justice Department’s motion to dismiss the indictments but criticized its reasoning, ruling that the case could not be reopened against Adams.
Adams, once a rising star in the Democratic Party, had faced accusations of wire fraud, soliciting illegal foreign campaign donations, and a bribery conspiracy involving Turkish citizens and at least one Turkish official.
Judge criticizes Justice Department’s arguments
In his order, Ho rejected the Justice Department’s claim that prosecuting Adams would interfere with the mayor’s ability to enforce Trump’s anti-immigration crackdown. The judge pointed out that Adams had, in fact, taken actions aligned with the administration’s policies.
“Everything here smacks of a bargain: dismissal of the indictment in exchange for immigration policy concessions,” Ho wrote, explaining that the case was being permanently dismissed to prevent the DOJ from using it as leverage against Adams.
“Dismissing the case without prejudice would create the unavoidable perception that the mayor’s freedom depends on his ability to carry out the immigration enforcement priorities of the administration,” Ho wrote. Such a situation, he argued, could make Adams “more beholden to the demands of the federal government than to the wishes of his own constituents.”
Trump’s intervention and backlash
Critics have suggested that Trump sought to drop the prosecution because Adams has refrained from criticizing the president and signaled a willingness to cooperate with the immigration crackdown.
New York remains a sanctuary city, meaning local authorities do not assist federal immigration agents in tracking undocumented migrants. However, in March, Adams signed an executive order granting Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) personnel access to the Rikers Island jail complex, a significant shift from previous city policy.
Trump’s unusual intervention to dismiss the charges against Adams triggered a wave of protest resignations from the Manhattan district attorney’s office and in Washington.
Adams has consistently denied the allegations, refused to step down, and announced plans to seek re-election in November. His perceived closeness to Trump has drawn criticism from many New Yorkers, and he has repeatedly denied speculation that he might switch to the Republican Party.
‘Disturbing’ DOJ arguments
Ho stated that he dismissed the case not based on the DOJ’s reasoning but because the court “cannot force the Department of Justice to prosecute a defendant.”
He further ruled that there was “no evidence” prosecutors had acted improperly in pursuing Adams or that the investigation amounted to “election interference” in the mayoral race, as Trump’s DOJ had argued.
Ho also criticized the Justice Department’s assertion that investigations hindering officials’ ability to enforce federal policies should be abandoned, calling the argument “disturbing.”
“That logic implies that public officials may receive special dispensation if they comply with the incumbent administration’s policy priorities,” Ho wrote.
