A federal judge peppered an official of Donald Trump’s Justice Department on Wednesday with questions during a hearing about the extraordinary decision to drop corruption allegations against New York City Mayor Eric Adams.
The request from the department prompted resignations at the Justice Department and the Mayor’s Office amid accusations that it was in exchange for Adams’ agreement to enforce the Republican President’s crackdown on immigration — an allegation the mayor denies.
Judge Dale Ho did not decide on the attempt to drop the graft charge against Adams in the 90-minute hearing. He asked for “patience” while he weighed what he described as an “unusual situation.”
He stated that it was not in anyone’s best interest to have this situation drag on, but “I won’t shoot from the hip here at the bench.”
He said that the extent of his authority to contradict the Justice Department in this matter was “narrow.”
Emil Bove, the acting deputy attorney general of the United States, appeared before the judge alone to defend the office’s request. He said Adams needed to focus on “protecting” the city.
Todd Blanche, Bove’s probable superior and awaiting Senate confirmation as deputy attorney general, was seated in the front of the packed courtroom with legal experts, media, and journalists.
Bove and Blanche both worked on the defense team for Trump when he was convicted criminally of business fraud by a New York State court last year.
Bove stated that the case against Adams “interferes” with President Obama’s efforts to ensure national security.
Alex Spiro is the attorney for the mayor. They both said that the indictment revoked Adams’ security clearance, and he could not participate “in a fully, candid and complete way” in a federal immigration task force.
Bove claimed that the case was hindering the mayor’s ability both to govern and to campaign to retain his position.
This argument contradicts the position Adams has taken for months, namely that the charges of fraud and corruption do not interfere with his duties as mayor of the largest US city.
He asked Adams a series of questions under oath, in part to make sure the mayor understood that the charges were not necessarily put to rest forever – the federal government could bring them back, including Trump’s administration.
Adams replied, “Yes, I understand.” “And judge I haven’t committed a criminal, and I can’t see that they will bring it back.”
Calls for Adams to Resign
Bove was not reticent in his later statement when asked if his presence in the courtroom had been a display of intimidation.
He said: “I went today to New York to show to the men and woman of the Justice Department, as well as to the American people, that I am personally dedicated to our shared battle: ending weaponized governments, stopping the illegal invasion of criminal aliens, and eradicating drug cartels and gangs transnational from our homeland.”
There are templates of resignation letters on the New York Times website and CNN’s website for those who don’t support our mission.
The legal team of Bove and Adams was not countered at the hearing: both the Manhattan acting US attorney, Danielle Sassoon as well as the lead prosecutor in the case resigned dramatically last week.
Hagan Scotten told Bove, in a blistering letter, that only “a fool” or “a coward” would agree to the Department’s request to drop the charges.
Adams smiled and gave a thumbs-up as he left the hearing on Wednesday.
The embattled Mayor is under increasing pressure to resign from high-ranking officials after the suggestion that Trump’s administration is influencing his decisions triggered widespread criticism, including among voters.
Gov. Kathy Hochul who can remove Adams from his office met with “key” leaders on Tuesday to discuss a “path to ensure stability for the City of New York.”
The legal community has been shaken by Bove’s shocking intervention in an ongoing anti-corruption case involving a public official. Top officials at the Justice Department were fired, demoted, or reassigned.
Over 800 former federal prosecutors published an open letter on Monday criticizing recent actions taken by Trump’s Justice Department, which are not based “on the facts and law”, but seem to be intended “to only serve political purposes”.
