Ripple effects from the Eric Adams case may highlight the power of Trump’s DOJ

Left: Special counsel Jack Smith speaks about an indictment of former President Donald Trump, Aug. 1, 2023 (AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin, File). Center: President Donald Trump speaks after signing an executive order in the Oval Office of the White House, Monday, Feb. 3, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci). Right: Mayor of New York City Eric Adams leaves federal court on September 27, 2024 in Lower Manhattan, New York City after pleading not guilty to corruption charges of bribery and wire fraud in connection with alleged illegal contributions he received during his 2021 mayoral campaign (zz/Andrea Renault/STAR MAX/IPx).

Left: Special counsel Jack Smith speaks about an indictment of former President Donald Trump, Aug. 1, 2023 (AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin, File). Center: President Donald Trump speaks after signing an executive order in the Oval Office of the White House, Monday, Feb. 3, 2025, in Washington (AP Photo/Evan Vucci). Right: Mayor of New York City Eric Adams leaves federal court on September 27, 2024 in Lower Manhattan, New York City after pleading not guilty to corruption charges of bribery and wire fraud in connection with alleged illegal contributions he received during his 2021 mayoral campaign (zz/Andrea Renault/STAR MAX/IPx).

Eric Adams, the mayor of New York, faces a five-count federal indictment for public corruption in the Southern U.S. District of New York — but Emil Bove, the acting Attorney General for Department of Justice, has ordered lawyers in the Southern District to dismiss the federal criminal case against him.

Any new administration has the power to dismiss criminal charges brought by a previous administration. While, historically, this discretion has often been exercised by the DOJ attorneys in the various local districts, Bove sent a clear message that he and DOJ headquarters — colloquially called Main Justice — are in charge of the DOJ.

However, Bove’s convoluted reasoning for the dismissal actually jeopardizes the dismissal of the charges. Bove’s reasons may also open the door for other criminal defendants to seek dismissal of their charges. Finally, Bove appears to be sending a message to former special counsel Jack Smith that the DOJ thinks his efforts were motivated by politics and there will be serious consequences for that.

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