Following a mass resignation of prosecutors, the Trump Justice Department is in turmoil. Acting Deputy Attorney General Emil Bove led a meeting with the public integrity section, instructing them to choose one lawyer to file a dismissal of corruption charges against NYC Mayor Eric Adams. The demand, though not explicitly threatening, led to a series of resignations.
Despite considering a mass resignation, the public integrity lawyers opted to select one person to file the dismissal. Bove, along with prosecutors Ed Sullivan and Antoinette Bacon, entered the filing to end the case after a wave of resignations from the Southern District of New York and the public integrity section.
The prosecutors who resigned decried the order to drop the charges against Adams as a 'quid pro quo.' The case has become a flashpoint in the Trump Justice Department, led by Attorney General Pam Bondi and others with ties to Trump.
The public integrity section, targeted since Trump's administration, faced more resignations after refusing to dismiss the case. The situation escalated with more prosecutors resigning after Bove's insistence on filing the dismissal.
The case against Adams, the first prosecution of a sitting NYC mayor, took a political turn after Trump's reelection. Adams' legal team sought a dismissal, citing the impact on his ability to lead the city.
Bove's directive to dismiss the case without prejudice allows for its revival after the mayoral election in 2025. The refusal of prosecutors to comply with the order has led to a series of resignations, highlighting the deep divisions within the Trump Justice Department.
