Conservative Top SDNY Prosecutor Suddenly Resigns After DOJ Pressure To Drop All Charges Against Mayor Eric Adams
A political firestorm erupted after Danielle R. Sassoon, the acting U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York, resigned following a directive from the Department of Justice (DOJ) to drop the corruption case against New York City Mayor Eric Adams. Sassoon’s sudden exist came amid a string of resignations from high-ranking DOJ officials.
The controversy centers on a memo issued by Emil Bove, the acting Deputy Attorney General, who ordered federal prosecutors in New York to abandon the investigation into Adams, The New York Times reported. Bove’s justification for the decision was based on the claim that continuing the case would hinder Adams’ ability to address issues like illegal immigration and violent crime. The memo made it clear that the DOJ had not reviewed the legal merits of the case, raising concerns about Trump’s influence over the prosecution.
Sassoon, along with several other prosecutors, strongly disagreed with this move. In her resignation letter, she expressed alarm at being forced to drop charges despite evidence of wrongdoing. Sassoon indicated that Adams’ legal team had attempted to broker a deal, suggesting that the mayor would cooperate with federal priorities if the charges were dismissed. She also mentioned that her office had uncovered additional evidence that Adams had instructed others to destroy evidence and mislead investigators, which further compounded her frustration with the decision, NBC News reported
The DOJ’s intervention has been widely interpreted as politically motivated, especially given that the Trump administration’s influence looms large over the department under President Trump’s tenure and Adams recent cozying up to Trump. Sassoon’s resignation, along with that of Kevin O. Driscoll and John Keller, senior officials at the DOJ’s Public Integrity Section, reflects the disillusionment with the department’s handling of high-profile corruption cases. Several other lawyers from the section followed suit, refusing to be complicit in what they viewed as a politically charged directive.
While Mayor Adams’ legal team has denied any wrongdoing, the string of resignations by top prosecutors has sparked a debate over the role of justice in the face of political pressure. On top of these allegation, Adams announced he is toying with switching from Democrat to Republican for his upcoming run for reelection.
