Mayor Eric Adams at a press convention on Feb. 18, 2025 at Bellevue Hospital.
Picture by Dean Moses
When a convicted felon was re-elected President, it grew to become clear that political instances are determined extra by public opinion than by the legislation. That verdict is settled as America embraces Donald Trump as President, but Mayor Eric Adams is being denied the presumption of innocence.
For Adams, already underneath intense scrutiny as NYC’s Mayor, the obvious authorized highlight has amplified opinions over information. As a Black lady and the primary to steer a NYC Democratic County Occasion, I do know firsthand how double requirements form public notion, and see the differing requirements utilized to Adams and Trump illustrating that stark distinction.
Amicus lawyer and former U.S. solicitor common Paul Clement on Friday advisable dropping the case “with prejudice” to stop it from hanging “like the proverbial Sword of Damocles” over Adams.
This follows a letter from the DOJ that supplied a notion of a “quid pro quo,” written as if it was meant to free Adams from allegations resulting in felony prosecution so he may cooperate with Trump’s immigration insurance policies. Trump, a grasp of media manipulation, has lengthy influenced public opinion to override due course of. His technique of “flooding the zone” overwhelms information with relentless messaging, a tactic now affecting Adams and stripping away his alternative of being presumed harmless till confirmed responsible within the eyes of the general public.
Consultant Jasmine Crockett (D-TX) highlighted this obvious hypocrisy of Trump’s 34 convictions: “If it was me, there is no way,” she stated. “Right now, I got no convictions, no arrests, no nothing, and I will never be qualified for president in the eyes of the vast majority of them.”
Clement’s opinion will doubtless be heeded by Decide Dale Ho, hopefully marking the top of a politically motivated darkish chapter and permitting Adams to proceed serving New York. Whereas it spares Adams from felony prosecution, it doesn’t protect him from public scorn or requires resignation.
We are able to’t neglect that the DOJ led many to consider Adams engaged in a “quid pro quo” with Trump, regardless of Adams vehemently denying it, and nil proof supporting DOJ’s declare.
If we’re to actually uphold justice, we should additionally look at whether or not Adams was unfairly focused by either side of the aisle, together with the DOJ’s discovering that, “The appearances of impropriety are too great based on the conduct of the former U.S. Attorney who initiated the case.” ( Williams, previously of the SDNY.)
Clement’s report highlighting the texts between prosecutors makes it clear they have been set on securing a responsible verdict for Adams’ case to get a win, whatever the proof, authorized procedures, or constitutional rights. For example, simply days after the 2024 election, in response to a textual content message asking if it was “time” for AUSA-1 to “take a seat on the bench,” AUSA-1 responded: “Got to convict Adams before I can think about anything else.” Ex. D.)
This personal notion not solely broken Adams’ fame, but in addition led to inter-party preventing on either side, and prompted the resignation of former performing U.S. Lawyer for Manhattan, Danielle Sassoon.
As a latest legislation faculty graduate, it behooves me to know that for on a regular basis spent and financial funding made studying the court docket of legislation, it’s outweighed by the court docket of public opinion, which doesn’t require due course of, discovery, or merit-based claims. It thrives on hypothesis and emotional narratives fairly than information, resulting in damaging penalties like intentional false litigation and reputational hurt that may very well be litigated in an actual courtroom.
Within the public eye, Adams has been judged with out trial – regardless of saying he “looks forward to his day in court” – whereas America concurrently accepted a convicted felon as its chief. Regardless of Adams’ achievements—together with record-low crime charges, job development, historic MWBE information, and profitable union negotiations—his capability to obtain a good trial, legally or in public notion, stays uncertain.
Take into account Adams’ predecessor, Mayor Invoice de Blasio, who additionally confronted ethics investigations, and stated, “I thought the charges against him [Adams] were very weak. Just because some prosecutor brings a charge doesn’t mean it’s true.”
I’ve been a very long time supporter of Adams, and Mayors earlier than him like Invoice de Blasio for the work and outcomes they’ve executed underneath intense scrutiny, and likewise know this double normal extends past New York Metropolis. Marketing campaign finance legal guidelines are disproportionately leveled towards Black politicians, typically overshadowing due course of. Former Lt. Governor Brian Benjamin was cleared of marketing campaign finance allegations, however solely after years of preventing to revive his fame. Even President Barack Obama declined public financing in his re-election, acknowledging, “We face opponents who’ve become masters at gaming this broken system.”
Like Clement, I too share the considerations concerning weaponization of the justice system for election interference, nationwide safety, and immigration coverage–and since the court docket ought to all the time act within the public curiosity, these conflicts make it clear Adams’ case ought to be dismissed.
Not like formal courts, public opinion is formed by feelings, bias, and media affect. As Adams’ lawyer aptly stated, “Speculation is not evidence.” We should not let unfounded narratives dictate our democracy or substitute the rule of legislation.
