The Justice Department formally asked a court Friday to dismiss corruption charges against New York City Mayor Eric Adams.
The move, which comes after Adams was accused of cozying up to President Donald Trump, which he denies, was expected but fiercely opposed by the federal prosecutors in Manhattan who brought the case.
Acting Deputy U.S. Attorney General Emil Bove and lawyers from the department’s public integrity section and criminal division in Washington filed paperwork seeking to end the case.
A judge still has to sign off on the request.
The formal move to end the prosecution came after days of turmoil in the Justice Department.
At least seven prosecutors in New York and Washington quit rather than carry out a directive to halt the case.
Among the people leaving were the interim U.S. attorney in Manhattan and a veteran prosecutor who worked on the Adams case, along with the acting chief of the public integrity section.
The Justice Department’s three-page motion sought to dismiss the case without prejudice, meaning the charges could be revived in the future.
This is a developing story. AP contributed.
