The acting US attorney for the Southern District of New York, Danielle Sassoon, has resigned from her position, according to sources familiar with the matter. Sassoon's resignation came after she was reportedly under pressure to dismiss criminal charges against New York Mayor Eric Adams, a Democrat.
The Justice Department's directive to drop the federal corruption case against Adams has sparked concerns about the independence of the prestigious US attorney's office and the implications for the city of New York. Deputy Attorney General Emil Bove issued a two-page memo instructing the acting attorney to dismiss the charges promptly.
Last year, the Justice Department brought public corruption charges against Adams, accusing him of receiving luxury travel benefits from a Turkish official in exchange for pressuring a New York City Fire Department official to grant permits for a Turkish consular building. Adams, who pleaded not guilty, has maintained that the prosecution was politically motivated.
The indictment alleged that Adams' illegal actions dated back to his time as Brooklyn Borough president in 2014. The case was scheduled to go to trial this spring before the Justice Department's directive to drop the charges.
The resignation of Danielle Sassoon and the controversy surrounding the dismissal of charges against Mayor Eric Adams have raised questions about the integrity of the legal system and the potential influence of political considerations on legal proceedings.
