NEW YORK (1010 WINS) — Senior Justice Department officials have discussed the future of the corruption case against Mayor Eric Adams with federal prosecutors in Manhattan, including the possibility of dropping it altogether, according to multiple reports.
Adams was indicted in September on bribery, wire fraud and corruption charges that allege he solicited illegal campaign contributions and luxury travel accommodations from Turkish nationals in exchange for political influence and favors.
The mayor has pleaded not guilty to all charges and claimed that he was targeted by the legal system as punishment for criticizing the Biden Administration’s handling of immigration. He is set to face trial in April.
A U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of New York spokesperson declined 1010 WINS’ request for comment.
No decision has been made as a result of the conversations between the Justice Department and Manhattan prosecutors as the talks are said to have been preliminary, sources told ABC News. There is no indication that prosecutors from the Southern District are inclined to drop the case.
The New York Times first reported the discussions.
Adams has spent time with President Donald Trump in recent weeks, including a closed-door meeting at Mar-a-Lago in Florida. The mayor said that he and the president used the meeting to discuss the priorities of New York City, but not his legal woes, despite comments by Trump in December that he would consider pardoning Adams.
“To be clear, we did not discuss my legal case, and those who suggest the mayor of the largest city in the nation shouldn't meet with the incoming president to discuss our city’s priorities because of inaccurate speculation or because we're from different parties clearly care more about politics than people,” Adams said after that meeting.
The mayor has claimed that the Democratic Party has “left him” over his concerns about immigration in NYC. Not even two weeks after Trump took office, mass deportation efforts by ICE began in the city.
Adams’ office had no comment on the reported discussions.