An lawyer for New York Metropolis Mayor Eric Adams has reached out to the Division of Justice searching for to have the case in opposition to the mayor dropped, based on two folks briefed on the matter.
A plea to drop the case was first reported by the New York Occasions, which famous it isn’t uncommon nor notably stunning {that a} high-profile defendant comparable to Adams, with equally high-profile counsel, would attain out to a brand new administration’s DOJ to ask for a contemporary take a look at their case.
As of Wednesday night, there was no indication federal prosecutors in Manhattan, nor the DOJ, had been contemplating dropping the case, one particular person conversant in the matter says. Prosecutors just lately instructed a choose that they had developed new proof in opposition to the mayor and knowledgeable the courtroom they had been more likely to deliver extra costs in opposition to Adams.
A spokesperson for the U.S. Legal professional’s Workplace declined remark.
Adams’ lawyer, Alex Spiro, is one in all a fleet of legal professionals that signify Elon Musk, who has maintained an in depth relationship with President Donald Trump since his election marketing campaign over the summer time.
Adams visited President Trump in Florida on Jan. 17, and was provided a last-minute invitation to the inauguration in Washington D.C. on Jan. 20, coinciding with Martin Luther King Jr. Day. The mayor has dismissed questions that his felony case — or the potential of a presidential pardon if he’s convicted — got here up through the sit-down close to Trump’s property, saying the case is one thing his authorized staff is dealing with.
Adams is scheduled to go on trial in April on costs that he accepted luxurious journey perks and unlawful marketing campaign contributions from international nationals in trade for political favors, together with serving to the Turkish officers resolve metropolis approvals for a diplomatic constructing in Manhattan.
Mayor Eric Adams is scaling again occasions, saying it is due to well being causes. Nevertheless, the mayor’s workplace insisted that metropolis enterprise will proceed as regular for the week. NBC New York’s Andrew Siff experiences.
The mayor has been on non permanent sick go away since Monday for what his workplace has known as routine medical assessments, saying Adams was not “feeling his best.” There had been rumors since Tuesday that he was about to plead responsible and even resign, however Spiro stated Wednesday “sorry, he’s not resigning,” and added the mayor has nothing to plead responsible for.
“He’s innocent, as I’ve said since the beginning,” stated Spiro outdoors courtroom after a short, closed-door listening to.
Adams didn’t attend the listening to. Spiro didn’t disclose whether or not any talks with prosecutors had been underway.
Some New Yorkers have expressed concern about what Adams may owe Trump if he had been to get a go on his costs.
“I think that a lot of people are concerned that the president — who is very unpopular in many parts of the city, over 70% of the city voted against him — would try to compromise the mayor and in ways that are not beneficial to the city. Such as how he’s dealing with migrants, such as how he’s dealing with DEI,” stated Rev. Al Sharpton. “My concern is that he not be compromised, and that this president not try to do a trade on it. Now I’m not saying that the mayor is in any way leaning that way, but I’m saying he would have to make very clear what was the basis of it.”
Adams will make his first public look of the week Thursday morning at an interfaith breakfast occasion.
