Top Manhattan Prosecutor Resigns after Refusing to Drop Corruption Case Against NYC Mayor Eric Adams

Danielle Sassoon, the acting U.S. attorney for the Southern District of New York, resigned Thursday after defying an order from the Trump administration to drop a corruption case against New York City Mayor Eric Adams. Sassoon’s decision to refuse the order has triggered a wave of resignations from other high-ranking officials, marking the sharpest rebuke yet to the administration’s handling of the case.

In her resignation letter, Sassoon described the Justice Department’s directive as a “breathtaking and dangerous precedent.” The case, which alleged that Adams had received illegal campaign contributions and bribes, was set to go to trial this spring. The indictment included accusations that Adams, while serving as Brooklyn Borough president, had accepted over $100,000 in luxury travel and gifts from foreign nationals in exchange for favors.

Sassoon, who was appointed by President Donald Trump just a few weeks ago, argued that the decision to dismiss the case was politically motivated and would undermine the credibility of the Justice Department. She detailed that during a meeting in January with Adams’ attorneys, they had proposed what she described as a “quid pro quo,” offering political favors in exchange for dropping the charges. Sassoon added that she was “baffled” by the rushed process and by the lack of her direct input in the final decision.

The dispute intensified when Emil Bove, acting deputy attorney general, ordered Sassoon to comply with the directive and drop the charges. Bove justified the decision by claiming that the case had become a distraction, hindering Adams’ ability to focus on pressing city matters such as immigration enforcement and violent crime, areas of concern for the Trump administration.

The resignations included several other senior prosecutors in Washington and New York, including John Keller, head of the Public Integrity Section, and Kevin Driscoll, who oversees the Criminal Division. The wave of resignations signals growing dissatisfaction among seasoned prosecutors with the Justice Department’s handling of high-profile cases under the Trump administration.

The case against Adams was the first federal corruption prosecution of a sitting mayor in New York’s modern history. Despite the legal turmoil, Adams has maintained his innocence, arguing that the charges were politically motivated due to his outspoken criticism of the Biden administration’s immigration policies.

As the resignations piled up, the Trump administration’s influence over the Justice Department continued to draw attention. Legal experts have raised concerns that the administration is attempting to use its control over the department to influence cases involving political opponents, signaling further tensions between the executive branch and independent legal authorities.