Justice Dept. discusses dropping corruption charges against NYC Mayor Eric Adams, source says
NEW YORK – Senior Justice Department officials have held discussions with federal prosecutors in Manhattan about the possibility of dropping corruption charges against New York City Mayor Eric Adams, a source familiar with the discussions confirmed to CBS News.
Adams was indicted on five counts of corruption in September, including bribery, conspiracy and campaign finance violations. He has pleaded not guilty on those counts. If he is found guilty, the charges could result in up to 45 years in prison.
The Justice Department did not comment. CBS News has asked reached out to Mayor Adams’ office for comment.
There is no indication yet that federal prosecutors in New York who brought the case will drop the charges.
The New York Times was first to report the discussions.
The mayor has long maintained his innocence. He pleaded not guilty when he was first charged last September. Adams is set to face trial in April.
Mayor Adams’ relationship with President Trump
The conversations are a normal part of what happens in a criminal court case, but it’s unusual in this instance because it comes after Adams and Donald Trump met in Florida, prior to Trump’s inauguration, CBS News New York’s Marcia Kramer reported.
Adams said the two had no discussion about a possible pardon or anything else regarding his criminal case.
“To be clear, we did not discuss my legal case, and those who suggest the mayor of the largest city in the nation shouldn’t meet with the incoming president to discuss our city’s priorities because of inaccurate speculation or because we’re from different parties clearly care more about politics than people,” Adams said in a statement after that meeting.
Adams then abruptly canceled plans to mark Martin Luther King, Jr. Day in New York City to instead attend Trump’s inauguration after a last-minute invitation.
Mr. Trump has previously said he thought Adams has been treated unfairly and has said he would consider pardoning Adams. If the case was dismissed, Adams would not have to be pardoned.
Another thing that makes the the timing of this revelation unusual is that prosecutors in Manhattan just recently filed paperwork indicating they had uncovered “additional criminal conduct” by the mayor. Adding yet another layer of intrigue is word of the meeting comes as Adams has scaled back his public schedule this week due to health concerns, according to the mayor’s office, and as Adams’ attorney Alex Spiro was in court to have a closed door, sealed meeting about discovery in the case.
NYC mayoral candidates discuss Adams’ indictment
The news broke the same day as New York City’s Democratic primary mayoral forum, an event Adams was invited to but didn’t attend.
During the forum, former Bronx Assemblyman Michael Blake was asked to name two things he has in common with the other candidates at the event.
“None of us canceled MLK events to go to a Trump inauguration, and none of us are trying to get a pardon,” he said.
This year’s crop of mayoral candidates made it clear that indictment or no indictment, they will demand answers from Adams during the campaign.
“Whether the federal prosecutors drop the charges or keep the charges, he’s still going to have to answer for a dismal administration and that’s up to the voters,” former New York City comptroller Scott Stringer said.
“New Yorkers deserve to know whether Eric Adams sold us out by trading illegal campaign contributions from the Turkish government for an approval of an unsafe building and other favors,” Comptroller Brad Lander said.