In the midst of resignations, accusations, and demands for New York City Mayor Eric Adams to resign, one notable figure standing by him is his predecessor.
Bill de Blasio, the former mayor and a fellow Democrat, asserts that the case against Adams should never have been initiated. De Blasio described the charges, which encompass bribery and campaign finance claims, as “flimsy” during an interview with CBS News on Friday.
“From Day One, I considered the charges against him to be quite weak,” de Blasio remarked. “I firmly believe, based on personal experience, that we need the maturity to recognize that just because a prosecutor files a charge, it doesn’t automatically mean it’s valid.”
On Monday, Acting Deputy Attorney General Emil Bove dispatched a memo directing former New York U.S. Attorney Danielle Sassoon’s office to drop the five-count indictment against Adams. Bove stated that the case “restricted” Adams’ ability to assist the Trump administration in implementing its immigration policies.
Sassoon, who was the top career federal prosecutor in Manhattan until Thursday, was among several Justice Department officials to resign after being ordered to dismiss the criminal case against Adams.
Adams, who pleaded not guilty and denied any wrongdoing, was scheduled for trial in April. Prosecutors asserted in a comprehensive indictment from September that Adams misused his power over the years to secure illegal campaign contributions and free or discounted travel.
Sassoon indicated in a letter to the attorney general on Thursday that Adams’ legal team had “proposed what amounted to a quid pro quo,” reportedly suggesting the mayor would cooperate with Trump administration initiatives on immigration enforcement in exchange for the charges being dropped.
An attorney representing Adams labeled that assertion as “a total lie,” and Adams himself denied the claim in a statement on Friday.
“I want to be absolutely clear with New Yorkers: I never offered — nor did anyone act on my behalf to offer — any exchange of my authority as your mayor for a resolution of my case. Never,” Adams asserted.
On Thursday, Adams announced an executive order permitting federal immigration agents to enter the city’s Rikers Island jail complex — a significant change in city policy. However, de Blasio expressed skepticism that such decisions reflect a deal with the White House.
De Blasio stated he does not view that action as evidence of a quid pro quo arrangement, describing it as “consistent with his prior positions that were unrelated to his legal situation.”
“While I have had my disagreements with Eric Adams, I have known him for a long time. He spent 20 years as a police officer. He understands the law,” de Blasio said. “I am not surprised that he takes a different stance on immigration compared to the rest of us (New York Democrats).”
De Blasio criticized the case and the prosecutors involved, remarking that the decision to proceed to trial just two months before New York City’s vital Democratic primary was reckless.
However, Sassoon, in her resignation letter on Thursday, pointed out that the Justice Department had previously indicted Adams. “The Department of Justice rightly determined that filing charges nine months ahead of a primary election was entirely justified,” Sassoon wrote.
De Blasio reflected on his own experience with being investigated. He endured a federal inquiry concerning campaign fundraising, which did not yield any charges. He noted that “defending oneself against a potential charge is time-consuming” and often requires extra fundraising efforts.
He indicated that the impending election was the major concern.
“They made it clear that there was a timeline to consider. They had to either substantiate their case or withdraw it,” de Blasio noted.
Roberto Serra – Iguana Press/Getty Images
In March 2017, acting U.S. Attorney Joon Kim announced that no charges would be filed against de Blasio, highlighting the office’s desire to avoid impacting that year’s City Hall race.
“While it’s unusual for us to issue a public statement regarding the status of an investigation, we believe it is appropriate in this situation to avoid unduly influencing the upcoming campaign and Mayoral election,” Kim remarked.
Both Adams and Bove have characterized the charges against him as politically motivated, echoing arguments previously put forth by Bove’s former defense client, President Trump.
However, de Blasio believes the comparison ends there.
“It’s apples to oranges. In all matters relating to Trump, there was overwhelming evidence publicly available. No one has ever demonstrated evidence of bribery against Adams,” de Blasio stated.
Former President Trump was convicted in New York last year on 34 felony counts of falsifying business records and is currently appealing that ruling. Additionally, a criminal case in Georgia currently remains on indefinite hold, and a federal case against him was dismissed after his election in November, as further pursuit would have breached Justice Department protocols regarding sitting presidents. Another federal case was also dismissed last summer.
Trump has denied all allegations, accusing various prosecutors of pursuing charges for political advantage.
Critics of Adams have alleged that he has been aligning closely with Trump to further his own interests in the case. However, de Blasio stated that Adams has the opportunity to disprove such claims through outright opposition to Trump’s policies.
“The mayor has a chance to refute that notion. His actions can put this to rest,” de Blasio concluded.
