The Justice Department on Monday night told the federal prosecutors in Mayor Adams’ corruption case to drop the charges — an astonishing move that immediately sparked political backlash.
The move comes after Adams has fostered a close working relationship with President Trump in recent weeks, visiting him near Mar-a-Lago last month ahead of his inauguration — which Adams attended — and has refused to publicly criticize him. On Monday, the mayor directed his employees to do the same out of fear New York City could be stripped of federal funding, according to sources.
“If there was any doubt left, today’s news makes it clear that justice is dead in America,” state senator and mayoral candidate Zellnor Myrie said in a statement. “The decision by Trump’s Department of Justice to drop charges against Eric Adams should outrage every single New Yorker.”
The mayor was indicted in September on five federal charges. His trial was scheduled for April.
“Today, [Adams] instructed his top officials not to criticize Donald Trump. And now we know why,” Brad Lander, the city’s comptroller and a mayoral candidate, wrote on social media. “Instead of standing up for New Yorkers, Mayor Adams is standing up for precisely one person — and that’s himself.”
State Sen. Jessica Ramos slammed Adams as the “worst mayor in NYC history” on Twitter.
Scott Stringer, another candidate for mayor, used the opportunity to state his case for mayor.
“The only New Yorker breathing a sigh of relief tonight is Eric Adams,” Stringer said in a statement. “The rest of us are facing unaffordable housing and childcare costs and rising crime and disorder. But thankfully, New Yorkers — not the president — get to decide who is mayor next year.”