One of the senior Manhattan federal prosecutors quit after she had declined to drop a corruption charge against New York City Mayor Eric Adams.
Right-wing lawyer Danielle Sassoon, a recent appointee of then-President Donald Trump, quit, describing the move to drop the case as a “breathtaking and dangerous precedent.”
Her resignation and at least two other senior Justice Department officials highlight growing tensions over the Trump administration’s approach to federal law enforcement.
Corruption Allegations Against Adams
Adams was indicted last September on charges of bribery, wire fraud, and receiving illegal campaign contributions from foreign nationals. Prosecutors allege he accepted over $100,000 in gifts from Turkish citizens in exchange for political favors. He has denied any wrongdoing.
The case was initially brought by officials appointed under former President Joe Biden. However, on Monday, Acting Deputy Attorney General Emil Bove—a Trump appointee—ordered prosecutors to drop the charges. He argued the case restricted Adams’ ability to focus on key Trump administration priorities, such as addressing illegal immigration and violent crime.
Bove did not comment on the validity of the charges but noted that the Justice Department could revisit the case after New York’s mayoral election in November.
Sassoon’s Defiance and Resignation
Sassoon refused to comply with the order, writing to Attorney General Pam Bondi on Thursday that she saw no “good faith” reason for dismissing the case.
“The law does not support a dismissal, and I am confident Adams has committed the crimes he is charged with,” Sassoon stated. She also claimed that in a January 31 meeting, Adams’ lawyers suggested the mayor could cooperate with the Trump administration on immigration policy if the charges were dropped—a claim Adams’ legal team strongly denies.
In response, Bove accused Sassoon of attempting to “pursue a politically motivated prosecution” against direct orders and placed other prosecutors involved in the case on leave, pending an internal investigation.
A wave of Resignations at the Justice Department
Following Sassoon’s resignation, two other senior Justice Department officials—John Keller, head of the public corruption unit, and Kevin Driscoll, a top criminal division prosecutor—also stepped down. Reports later surfaced that three additional prosecutors had left their posts.
Sassoon, who joined the Manhattan federal prosecutor’s office in 2016, was previously part of the team that prosecuted FTX founder Sam Bankman-Fried.
Mayor Adams’ Ties to Trump Administration
Despite being a Democrat, Adams has shown a willingness to collaborate with the Trump administration, particularly on immigration policy. On Thursday, after a meeting with Trump’s border advisor Tom Homan, Adams agreed to allow immigration officials to reopen an office at Rikers Island jail.
“I want to work with the federal administration, not fight them, to improve the lives of New Yorkers,” Adams said in a statement.
The mayor previously met with Trump in Florida before his inauguration and attended his swearing-in ceremony. However, he denies discussing his legal troubles with the former president.
Trump himself has stated he did not request the case be dropped, though Bove defended the move as a “direct order implementing the policy of a duly elected President.”
Allegations and Legal Battle Ahead
According to prosecutors, Adams began accepting luxury gifts from Turkish nationals in 2016, when he was Brooklyn Borough President. The indictment details luxury hotel stays, expensive dinners, and plane upgrades, such as a two-night stay in Istanbul for $7,000 that Adams allegedly paid only $600 for.
Even with mounting legal pressure, Adams pleaded not guilty and will not admit to any wrongdoing.
