The Justice Division on Monday night time instructed the federal prosecutors in Mayor Adams’ corruption case to drop the fees — an astonishing transfer that instantly sparked political backlash.
The transfer comes after Adams has tried to cozy as much as President Trump in latest weeks, visiting him close to Mar-a-Lago final month forward of his inauguration — which Adams attended — and has refused to publicly criticize him. On Monday, the mayor directed his staff to do the identical out of worry New York Metropolis may very well be stripped of federal funding, in accordance with sources.
The mayor was indicted in September on 5 federal prices. His trial was scheduled for April.
“Today, [Adams] instructed his top officials not to criticize Donald Trump. And now we know why,” Brad Lander, the town’s comptroller and a mayoral candidate, wrote on social media. “Instead of standing up for New Yorkers, Mayor Adams is standing up for precisely one person — and that’s himself.”
State Sen. Jessica Ramos slammed Adams because the “worst mayor in NYC history” on Twitter.
Scott Stringer, one other candidate for mayor, used the chance to state his case for mayor.
“The only New Yorker breathing a sigh of relief tonight is Eric Adams,” Stringer stated in an announcement. “The rest of us are facing unaffordable housing and childcare costs and rising crime and disorder. But thankfully, New Yorkers — not the president — get to decide who is mayor next year.”