Judge Says He Will Decide Soon Whether To Dismiss Mayor Adams Case

NEW YORK CITY — A federal judge said he will decide soon on whether the federal corruption case against Mayor Eric Adams will be dismissed.

Judge Dale Ho declined to rule on the case from the bench but disclosed he would be issuing a ruling soon.

"This is a very complicated situation, at least from where I sit," Ho said.

“I’m not going to shoot from the hip right here on the bench,” Ho said. “I want to make sure that I consider everything appropriate, and that I don’t consider anything inappropriate, and make a reasoned decision that is mindful of my role, which I understand here is quite narrow.”

The judge added that it is not in anyone's interest for this to drag on.

Justice Department officials last Friday filed a motion to ask a judge to formally end the case after a number of prosecutors from the Southern District of New York declined to dismiss charges, Patch previously reported.

The Wednesday hearing comes after Danielle R. Sassoon, acting U.S. attorney for the Southern District of New York, resigned from her post rather than dismiss charges against Adams.

In a letter to U.S. Attorney Pam Bondi that was published by the New York Times, Sassoon mentioned an alleged “quid pro quo” where the mayor would assist with immigration enforcement only if the indictment were dismissed.

When questioned by Ho on the alleged "quid pro quo", Adams’ lawyer, Alex Spiro, said it "It never happened."

Spiro went a step further, saying he would be happy to "raise my right hand now” and testify that there was no quid pro quo agreement.

Emil Bove, the acting deputy attorney general, told Ho, that dismissing the case would allow the mayor to "get back to work unburdened and unhindered."

Group Of Black lawmakers Warn Hochul To Not Remove Adams

Earlier this week, as Gov. Kathy Hochul met with Democratic leaders at her Midtown office to discuss the mayor's future, a group of eight Black lawmakers sent Hochul a letter defending him.

The lawmakers who signed the letter were Assembly members Rodneyse Bichotte Hermelyn and Nikki Lucas, State Senators Leroy Comrie and James Sanders Jr., Assembly members Alicia Hyndman and Clyde Vanel; Assembly member Chantel Jackson; and Assembly member Al Taylor.

“As Black legislators, we have seen this over and over again: double standards and unfair process when it comes to our leaders," the letter says. "If a move against the mayor is made without a justifiable legal reason, our communities will never forget it.”

“There is no constitutional reason we can see why he should be removed from office."

“There is an election in June, and New Yorkers can once again determine their leadership then. Elections give the ability for voters to choose who they want to represent them. New Yorkers will recognize that once this difficult period is behind us."