New York mayor’s team denies quid pro quo in federal case as turmoil engulfs City Hall

MANHATTAN (CN) — New York City Mayor Eric Adams continues to deny that he engaged in a quid pro quo to get his federal corruption case dismissed in exchange for helping the Trump administration with immigration enforcement, according to a new court filing.

“There was no quid pro quo. Period,” Adams’ attorney Alex Spiro wrote in a Tuesday letter to U.S. District Judge Dale Ho.

“Acting Deputy Attorney General [Emil] Bove invited us to a meeting at which he asked us to address how the case might be affecting Mayor Adams’s ability to do his job and whether there was evidence of politicization,” Spiro wrote. “At that meeting, which occurred on Jan. 31, 2025, we explained that the indictment and upcoming trial were impeding Mayor Adams in myriad ways, including as to enforcement of federal immigration laws.”

That meeting was first described by ex-U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York Danielle Sassoon, who resigned from her post last week rather than follow the Justice Department’s orders to drop the case against Adams. In her resignation letter, she said that Adams’ attorneys “repeatedly urged what amounted to a quid pro quo” by indicating that Adams would be able to help with immigration enforcement “only if the indictment were dismissed.”

Last week, six other prosecutors resigned rather than attach their names to a dismissal motion for Adams’ case — until Friday, when Bove finally found a willing volunteer to argue the dismissal for the department.

Now, Ho will have the opportunity to probe the Justice Department about the debacle before agreeing to drop the case. The Joe Biden-appointed judge from the Southern District of New York has set a hearing for Wednesday afternoon to dig into the details of the government’s dismissal request.

Meanwhile, chaos is swirling at New York City Hall. Earlier this week, four top officials in Adams’ administration resigned amid fears the mayor is now beholden to President Donald Trump — fears that were bolstered by Adams’ Friday appearance on Fox News alongside Trump’s border czar Tom Homan.

During their 15-minute sit-down with the conservative network, Homan told the hosts that he’d be “in [Adams’] office, up his butt,” if Adams doesn’t follow through with his promise to help the Trump administration with federal deportation efforts.

Maria Torres-Springer, the first deputy mayor, and Meera Joshi, Anne Williams-Isom and Chauncey Parker, all also deputy mayors, each said on Monday that they would be stepping down from their posts after reportedly voicing their concerns to the mayor last week.

After the slew of resignations, New York Governor Kathy Hochul said she will hold a meeting Tuesday to consider removing Adams from office — a power afforded to her under the state constitution.

“In the 235 years of New York State history, these powers have never been utilized to remove a duly elected mayor; overturning the will of the voters is a serious step that should not be taken lightly,” Hochul said in a statement Monday. “That said, the alleged conduct at City Hall that has been reported over the past two weeks is troubling and cannot be ignored.”

Bove ordered federal prosecutors to drop the case against Adams on Feb. 10. He claimed in a Justice Department memo that the ongoing prosecution was unduly interfering with the mayor’s upcoming 2025 reelection campaign and his ability to govern New York City.

Adams, a first-term Democrat and former NYPD captain, was charged with a five-count indictment in September 2024. He is accused of accepting and concealing luxury perks and illegal campaign contributions from Turkish businessmen and a government official, who supposedly used the mayor to gain political influence in New York City.

He is also accused of defrauding a city program that matches small-dollar donations during his mayoral campaign and has been barred from using the program again in his reelection campaign.

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