'Time To Move Forward' Mayor Adams Reacts As DOJ Push To Drop Charges

NEW YORK CITY — Mayor Eric Adams on Tuesday reacted to the news of the Department of Justice ordering federal prosecutors to dismiss corruption charges against him.

In a broadcasted address at City Hall, Adams said that the decision proved his innocence.

"I never asked anyone to break the law on my behalf or on behalf of my campaign, never. I never traded my power as an elected official for any personal benefit,” Adams said. “I thank the Justice Department for its honesty. Now, we can put this cruel episode behind us and focus entirely on the future of our city. It’s time to move forward.”

Deputy Attorney General Emil Bove in a two-page memo ordered prosecutors to dismiss the case "without prejudice" on Monday, Patch previously reported.

The memo obtained by the Associated Press argues that the ongoing case has restricted Adams' ability to "devote full attention and resources to the illegal immigration and violent crime" in the city.

Bove also said the timing of the charges and actions by former U.S. Attorney Damian Williams had "threatened the integrity of the proceedings."

Adams in his address criticized the facts of the case, saying no witnesses have come out publicly against him and that additional charges by Manhattan prosecutors have never materialized.

It is not known at this time how quickly the criminal case might be dropped.

Despite not naming Trump by name, Adams has been in direct communication with the president for weeks, Patch previously reported.

Trump has made it known that he could look at issuing a pardon for Adams.

Adams faces one count of wire fraud, one count of conspiracy, two counts of solicitation of a contribution from a foreign national and one count of bribery, Patch previously reported.

Adams received benefits and perks from Turkish officials, including free and discounted airline tickets and hotel accommodations, according to an unsealed indictment.

The perks were worth more than $100,000, prosecutors said. Adams has pleaded not guilty to all charges.

Reaction To DOJ Decision

A number of elected officials slammed the decision, alluding to Adams having to do Trump’s bidding or risk his charges being reinstated.

State Sen. Zellnor Myrie, who is running against Adams in the June primary election, said that Adams “no longer works for New Yorkers; he works for Donald Trump.”

“The directive from the Department of Justice to dismiss the charges against Mayor Eric Adams is a dangerous degradation of the independence of our prosecutor’s office and of our courts,” Myrie said in a press conference.

Justin Brannan, city councilman and candidate for New York City Comptroller, said Adams got a "lifeline" from the White House after telling his cabinet not to criticize the president.

"Let’s be clear, this case wasn’t dropped because of the merits or the facts. It was dropped because Eric Adams kissed Trump’s ring. And we wonder why everyday working people think the system is rigged against them and only serves the powerful and the well-connected," Brannan said.

"Now we’ve got a mayor who cares more about protecting himself than protecting New Yorkers. Worse, he’s beholden to a president who’s promised to devastate our city with funding cuts and mass deportations."

Similarly, City Comptroller, Brad Lander, said the mayor cares more about "staying out of prison more than he cares about the well-being of New Yorkers."

"The result is that when the president harms or threatens New York City, the mayor will be unable to fight back. Whether we’re being threatened with service cuts, with loss of the money we need for our schools and hospitals, whether that’s families being destroyed, higher prices or more.”