Mayor Eric Adams and his protection legal professional Alex Spiro as proven in September 2024.
Picture by Dean Moses
Mayor Eric Adams‘ pricey criminal defense attorney, Alex Spiro, boldly claimed on Wednesday that the book is now closed on Hizzoner’s corruption case after President Trump’s Justice Division directed Manhattan federal prosecutors to drop the costs.
That situation has sparked outcries from many elected officers and politicos who’re involved that Adams will now be utterly beholden to Trump, contemplating his destiny is within the Republican president’s fingers.
The DOJ’s Feb. 10 memo, written by performing Deputy Lawyer Normal Emil Bove, additionally stated the case shall be reviewed as soon as once more by the Manhattan US Lawyer’s workplace in November, after the mayoral basic election.
Mayor Eric Adams delivering an handle at Metropolis Corridor on Feb. 11, 2025.Ed Reed/Mayoral Images Workplace
Nonetheless, Spiro proclaimed on Feb. 12 that “the first of its kind airline upgrade corruption case is now over” — referring to allegations that Adams accepted luxurious journey perks, like free flight upgrades, in alternate for political favors.
Federal prosecutors additionally accused Adams of soliciting and accepting unlawful marketing campaign donations from Turkish nationals, and he was charged with that crime, bribery, and wire fraud in September.
However when reporters pressed Spiro on the truth that the case may very well be resurrected, he barely modified his tune — saying he “expects” the case to be completely dismissed in November.
“When you review a case and re-review a case that shouldn’t have been brought in the first place, it’s not a crime, there’s no evidence of guilt, I expect it not to be brought again,” he stated.
The Manhattan US Lawyer’s workplace has not but commented on or responded to the DOJ’s memo, and Spiro stated he has not spoken to the workplace both.
‘Evidence didn’t add up’: Spiro
Spiro insisted that the DOJ moved to drop the costs after it performed a reevaluation of the case and realized the “evidence didn’t add up.” He made this declare regardless of Bove particularly saying the information of Adams’ case don’t have anything to do with the DOJ’s request to drop the costs.
Moreover, Spiro argued that former Manhattan US Lawyer Damian Williams drummed up the costs both as political retribution towards Adams on behalf of former President Biden or to lift his personal profile.
“This was no search for truth,” Spiro charged. “They were after him, and they figured out a way to invent a crime. Was it a big career case, a way to update someone’s LinkedIn profile? Were they trying to impress Washington because of the mayor’s fallout, or was it some other personal agenda at work?”
Spiro stated Williams’ September press convention, at which he unsealed Adams’ indictment, amounted to a “stump speech.” He argued that the presentation exemplified Williams’ want to make a reputation for himself by prosecuting Adams.
Bove’s memo echoed Spiro’s central argument that the case was motivated by Williams’ profession aspirations and former President Biden’s alleged want to punish Adams for criticizing his dealing with of immigration.
Adams has repeatedly made the latter level with out providing any clear proof to assist his argument — and regardless of the investigation beginning earlier than he took workplace in January 2022.
It additionally cited the proximity of Adams’ indictment to the 2025 mayoral main and its potential obstacle to his potential to adjust to Trump’s mass deportation efforts as causes to drop the case.
But, Spiro denied that Adams’ fees being dropped are predicated on his cooperation with Trump’s immigration agenda.
“Of course not, that’s absurd,” Spiro stated of the notion.
The memo was launched after months of the mayor working to curry favor with Trump in what many suspected was a marketing campaign to get his fees dismissed. Adams particularly raised eyebrows when he took a non-public assembly with Trump in Florida and attended the president’s inauguration final month.
