Lawyers representing New York City Mayor Eric Adams are pursuing sanctions against the Department of Justice, accusing them of unlawfully leaking information regarding the investigation into the mayor to the media. The leaks, ongoing for approximately a year, culminated in the revelation of charges to the public just a day after sources confirmed the indictment to various media outlets.
In court documents made public on Tuesday, Adams' lawyer Avi Perry highlighted the timing of the leaks, noting that information about the indictment was disclosed to the media before the mayor's legal counsel was officially notified. The leaks, Perry argued, could only have originated from a limited circle of individuals involved in the grand jury proceedings, including court staff, grand jury members, and Justice Department prosecutors.
The legal team is pushing for a hearing to address the alleged misconduct and to seek appropriate consequences, with the ultimate goal of potentially having the indictment dismissed. The charges against Mayor Adams, if convicted, could result in a sentence of up to 45 years, with experts suggesting that more charges may be forthcoming as investigations into city hall staffers and campaign aides continue.
Despite repeated requests from Adams' team to curb the leaks, no action has been taken by prosecutors, prompting the call for a court hearing on the matter. Mayor Adams has also insinuated that the investigation may be a form of retribution for his criticism of the Biden-Harris administration's border policy, linking the probe to his previous comments on the migrant crisis affecting New York City.
Earlier this year, Adams had attributed an increase in robberies in the city to an influx of illegal immigrants, a stance that drew attention to the strain on the city's shelter system. The ongoing legal battle between Mayor Adams and the Department of Justice underscores the high-stakes nature of the corruption investigation and its potential implications for the political landscape of New York City.
