Order to Toss Adams Case Fuels More Resignations and Accusations
- Manhattan US Attorney Danielle Sassoon refused to obey order
- Order was seen as a challenge to prosecutors’ independence
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Manhattan’s chief federal prosecutor and senior Justice Department officials in Washington resigned rather than carry out an order to drop a corruption case against New York City Mayor Eric Adams, defying the wishes of President Donald Trump.
Interim Manhattan US Attorney Danielle Sassoon stepped down Thursday, a day after she wrote Attorney General Pam Bondi an eight-page letter defending her office’s handling of the Adams case and saying she saw no good-faith reason to drop the case. Sassoon was instructed to do so Monday by Acting Deputy Attorney General Emil Bove, who said the case was politically motivated and was hindering Adams’ cooperation with Trump’s immigration enforcement priorities.