Danielle Sassoon, the acting US attorney for the Southern District of New York, has resigned after reportedly being pressured to drop the federal corruption case against New York City Mayor Eric Adams. Her resignation, detailed in an eight-page letter to Attorney General Pam Bondi, raises concerns about the independence of the Justice Department and its handling of high-profile cases.
Resignation and Political Pressure
Sassoon did not explicitly state the reason for her resignation, but sources familiar with the situation confirm that she was directed to dismiss criminal charges against Adams earlier this week. A two-page memo from Deputy Attorney General Emil Bove instructed the Southern District of New York to dismiss the case “as soon as is practicable.” The move has sparked debate over political interference in the judicial system.
Corruption Charges Against Adams
The Justice Department had previously brought public corruption charges against Mayor Adams, marking the first prosecution of a sitting New York City mayor in modern history. Adams pleaded not guilty, and his trial was scheduled for this spring.
The indictment alleged that Adamsâ illegal activities dated back to 2014 when he was Brooklyn Borough president. Prosecutors accused him of receiving luxury travel perksâincluding hotel upgrades and mealsâfrom a Turkish official in exchange for pressuring the New York City Fire Department to approve permits for a Turkish consular building that had failed inspection.
Adams Calls Case Politically Motivated
Mayor Adams, who was registered as a Republican in the 1990s, has claimed that the case against him is politically driven. He has been an outspoken critic of the Biden administrationâs handling of the migrant crisis in New York City, which saw an influx of arrivals starting in 2022.
Sassoonâs departure has added to concerns about political influence in high-profile prosecutions, leaving questions about the future of the case and the integrity of the Justice Departmentâs actions.
