Manhattan Federal Judge Dale Ho’s decision to dismiss “with prejudice” the sweeping public corruption charges against Mayor Adams was a stinging indictment of the Justice Department’s position that it could drop the case to procure the mayor’s cooperation on immigration matters.
“DOJ’s immigration enforcement rationale is both unprecedented and breathtaking in its sweep. DOJ cites no examples, and the Court is unable to find any, of the government dismissing charges against an elected official because doing so would enable the official to facilitate federal policy goals,” Ho wrote.
The ruling is in line with the findings of an independent lawyer, Paul Clement, Ho appointed to advise him on the matter. Clement — echoing widespread criticism of the deal — said the prospect of the mayor feeling indebted to the president out of fear he could be reindicted and not New Yorkers was “deeply troubling,” though Adams has consistently denied there was any quid pro quo.
“[After] DOJ decided to seek dismissal of his case, the Mayor took at least one new immigration-related action consistent with the preferences of the new administration. Everything here smacks of a bargain: dismissal of the Indictment in exchange for immigration policy concessions,” Ho wrote.
Read the ruling here: