Top NY Prosecutor Resigns After DOJ Orders Case Against Mayor Adams Dropped

Danielle Sassoon, the acting U.S. attorney for the Southern District of New York, resigned after being ordered by the Justice Department to drop federal corruption charges against New York City Mayor Eric Adams. The directive from Acting Deputy Attorney General Emil Bove, which lacked legal justification, was perceived as political interference, prompting Sassoon's resignation and that of two senior officials in Washington. The charges against Adams, who has pleaded not guilty, include allegations of accepting illegal campaign contributions and bribes while serving as Brooklyn Borough President, marking the first time a sitting New York City mayor has faced such charges. Adams has claimed that the case is politically motivated, linked to his criticisms of the Biden administration's immigration policies. The situation has raised concerns about the independence of the Southern District of New York, a historically autonomous prosecutor's office. As of now, the charges against Adams remain in place despite the Justice Department's push to dismiss them.