Mayor Eric Adams addressed the public on Tuesday, February 11th, after the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) ordered federal prosecutors to dismiss charges against him. Facing allegations of bribery, conspiracy, and illegal contributions, Adams reaffirmed his innocence and thanked the DOJ for its “honesty.”
“Let me be clear, I never asked anyone to break the law on my behalf or on behalf of my campaign, never,” Adams said. “And I absolutely never traded my power as an elected official for any personal benefit.”
The DOJ’s directive to drop the case without prejudice came from Acting Deputy Attorney General Emil Bove. In a memo, Bove cited concerns that the prosecution was politically motivated, influenced by the Biden administration’s stance on Adams’ criticisms of federal immigration policies. The memo also noted that the case had impacted Adams’ reelection campaign and his ability to assist the Trump administration’s efforts to address illegal immigration and violent crime.
Adams acknowledged that despite the case being dismissed, public skepticism remains. “I also understand that many New Yorkers will still question my character, and I know that I must continue to regain your trust,” Adams said. “I’ve learned a lot over the last year, and this experience has been humbling.”
The mayor, who had been scheduled to stand trial on April 21st, described the past 15 months as the most difficult period of his life. Despite this, he maintained that his administration had remained focused on governing.
“We have achieved record drops in crime, record increases in affordable housing, and the highest number of jobs in New York City history,” he said. “But as we have been dragged through this unfortunate prosecution, I never took my eyes off what was important, you and your family’s future.”
Governor Kathy Hochul emphasized the need for Adams to focus on running the city. “The mayor needs to stay focused on the issues of the city,” Hochul said. “That has to be his laser focus. And I’m going to continue to make sure that continues to be his focus. It has to be what we are all working towards to protect New Yorkers.”
The DOJ’s decision to dismiss the case does not prevent prosecutors from refiling charges in the future. Adams’ legal team has framed the dismissal as a victory but acknowledged that further legal scrutiny could follow after the 2025 mayoral election.
