American Oversight Opens Investigation into Trump Justice Department’s Quid Pro Quo Pressure Campaign Benefitting Mayor Eric Adams
American Oversight filed FOIA requests seeking information on the Justice Department's push to drop charges against New York Mayor Eric Adams, leading to mass resignations.
On Friday, American Oversight launched an investigation into acting Deputy Attorney General Emil Bove’s apparent quid pro quo order to drop all corruption charges against New York City Mayor Eric Adams in exchange for his cooperation with the Trump administration’s enforcement priorities. As part of its investigation, the nonpartisan watchdog sent Freedom of Information Act requests to the Department of Justice’s (DOJ) Office of Information Policy and the Executive Office for United States Attorneys seeking records that could shed light on the Justice Department’s political incursion into Mayor Adams’ ongoing criminal case.
“Federal prosecutors should never have to choose between upholding the rule of law and keeping their jobs,” said American Oversight interim Executive Director Chioma Chukwu. “Dropping criminal charges for partisan purposes is a naked abuse of power. We are committed to uncovering the facts, exposing any wrongdoing or corruption, so that the public and lawmakers can hold all involved parties, including the Trump Justice Department, accountable.”
On Monday, Feb. 10, the Justice Department ordered prosecutors to drop corruption charges against Mayor Adams, following meetings where, according to U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York Danielle Sassoon, Adams’ lawyers had explicitly offered the mayor’s assistance with the Trump administration’s enforcement priorities in exchange for dismissing the criminal case, which included charges of conspiracy, wire fraud, soliciting illegal foreign campaign contributions from foreign nationals, and bribery. On Thursday, Feb. 13, Sassoon resigned, with the New York Times calling it a “stunning repudiation of the administration’s attempt to force the dismissal of the charges against Mr. Adams.” On Feb. 14, Hagan Scotten, the lead prosecutor on the federal corruption case against Adams, resigned, slamming top DOJ officials in his resignation letter and charging acting Deputy Attorney General Emil Bove to find a lawyer “who is enough of a fool, or enough of a coward” to execute this level of glaring overreach. In recent days, seven federal prosecutors have reportedly resigned rather than carry out the Trump administration’s instructions.
American Oversight played a key role in holding the Trump administration accountable during the president’s first term. Using public records backed by aggressive litigation, American Oversight uncovered extensive evidence of corruption, conflicts of interest, and abuses of power throughout the administration. American Oversight will continue to hold Trump and his allies accountable by shining a light on the actions of the administration.