Biden Administration Drops Corruption Charges Against New York Mayor: Senior DOJ Officials Resign
In the wake of the Biden administration’s directive to drop corruption charges against New York City Mayor Eric Adams, the Department of Justice (DOJ) has reportedly experienced a wave of resignations.
Following the resignation of Manhattan’s top prosecutor, Danielle Sassoon, the New York Times reported on Friday that her deputy, Hagan Scotten, had also submitted his resignation to the DOJ. Five other officials in the DOJ’s Public Corruption Unit also stepped down in protest against the dismissal of the charges against Adams.
In his resignation email to Deputy Attorney General Emil Bove, which was published by US media outlets, Scotten decried the administration’s actions as "disgraceful."
"Only a fool or a coward would comply with the Department’s demand that we dismiss the case," Scotten wrote. "A free people cannot tolerate a government that can induce its elected officials to serve its political agenda with the carrot of dropped charges or the stick of threatened prosecution."
Scotten, who had led the investigation into Adams, is a decorated veteran of the US Army. A Harvard graduate, he also previously served on the staff of conservative Supreme Court Justice John Roberts.
His resignation follows that of his boss, Sassoon. The acting US attorney for the Southern District of New York had reportedly submitted her resignation to Attorney General Pam Bondi on Thursday. Sassoon, a Republican, was installed as interim chief prosecutor by the new administration while the Senate confirmed her nominee for the post, Jay Clayton.
The directive to drop the case against Adams came from Acting Deputy Attorney General Emil Bove, a former lawyer for President Donald Trump. Bove had argued that the prosecution was "unduly burdening" Adams’s ability to "fully focus on addressing illegal immigration and violent crime."
Adams had been indicted on charges of illegal campaign finance, lying to federal authorities, and bribery. Bove’s internal memo to prosecutors instructed them to "decline to prosecute the pending charges in the matter of United States v. Adams."
Adams is the first sitting New York City mayor to be indicted. He had pleaded not guilty in September in Manhattan federal court, denying allegations that he accepted luxury-class flights, hotel suites, and upscale restaurant meals in exchange for political favors.
The Democrat has been cozying up to Trump in recent months, and has himself described the case against him as politically motivated, echoing Trump’s claims. On Thursday, Adams announced greater cooperation with the administration on immigration policy.
Implications for Prosecutorial Independence
Scotten’s resignation letter raised serious concerns about the Biden administration’s commitment to prosecutorial independence. He argued that the dismissal of charges against a politically favored official undermined the rule of law and set a dangerous precedent.
"The law and traditions of the United States do not permit the prosecution to be used as a tool to influence other citizens, let alone elected officials," he wrote. "The power of the government to prosecute should not be wielded to advance political objectives or to punish political opponents."
Legal experts have warned that the administration’s actions could have far-reaching consequences for the integrity of the justice system. They argue that it sends a message that prosecutors are beholden to political pressure, not the rule of law.
Political Fallout
The resignations and the controversy surrounding the dropped charges have created a political firestorm for the Biden administration. Democrats have denounced the move as an abuse of power and a threat to the separation of powers. Republicans, meanwhile, have largely defended the administration’s decision, arguing that Adams was being unfairly targeted for political reasons.
The fallout from this controversy is likely to continue as investigations into the administration’s handling of the case proceed. The resignations of senior DOJ officials serve as a stark reminder of the importance of prosecutorial independence and the dangers of political interference in the justice system.
