Name: Top NYC prosecutors resign after directive to drop Eric Adams case
Uploaded: 2025-02-14T01:37:56.797Z
Duration: 3 min 21 s
Description: CBS News obtained the resignation letter of the former Manhattan prosecutor who stepped down from her role following a directive from the Justice Department to drop the criminal case against Mayor Eric Adams.

CBS News obtained the resignation letter of the former Manhattan prosecutor who stepped down from her role following a directive from the Justice Department to drop the criminal case against Mayor Eric Adams.

New York

The resignation of Manhattan's top federal prosecutor has come in the wake of a directive from the Justice Department to dismiss the criminal case against New York City Mayor Eric Adams. Danielle Sassoon, the prosecutor who resigned, expressed confusion and concern over what she described as a rushed decision in her resignation letter. She requested Attorney General Pam Bondi to reconsider the memo calling for the dismissal.

The Department of Justice's recommendation to drop the charges against Mayor Adams, who had pleaded not guilty to corruption, led to the resignation of three high-ranking federal prosecutors in New York City. Serious allegations had been made, including attempts by Adams to mislead the FBI during the investigation. There were also claims of a quid pro quo offer by Adams' defense attorneys promising support for Trump's immigration priorities if the case was dropped.

Despite the decision, the case against Adams remains unresolved. Adams' legal team denies any quid pro quo arrangement. Danielle Sassoon, who briefly assumed her role at the Justice Department, cited her credentials and background in her resignation letter, asserting the process to drop the case was unjustified. The Department of Justice attributed their decision to drop the case to a potential distraction from Adams' campaign amid New York City's mayoral primary.



Top NYC prosecutors resign after directive to drop Eric Adams case

Hello, and thank you for joining us. CBS News has obtained the resignation letter of Manhattan's top federal prosecutor Who stepped down from her role Wednesday? Following a directive from the Justice Department to drop the criminal case against New York City Mayor Eric Adams in it Danielle Sassoon said quote I remain baffled by the rushed and superficial process by which this decision was reached and quote She also urged Attorney General Pam Bondi to reconsider the memo that called for the dismissal of Adams case on Thursday afternoon President Trump told reporters in the Oval Office. He had not asked for the case against Adams to be dropped CBS News Justice Department correspondent Scott McFarland joins me now Scott three top federal prosecutors in New York City have resigned their resignations Of course come after the Justice Department recommended these charges against Adams being dropped What's going on here and what more can you tell us about Sassoon's resignation letter a dramatic? Tumultuous moment inside the Department of Justice just in the early stages of the new leadership of the u.s Justice Department not only did the top prosecutor in Manhattan Resign in protest over this controversial decision to drop the case against Eric Adams who's pleaded not guilty to corruption charges She reveals that they were gonna bring new charges against Adams alleging that he had tried to mislead or lie to the FBI During the investigation and she alleges there was some quid pro quo That was attempted by Adams defense attorneys in which they promised to her and her bosses that if they dropped the case Mayor Adams would help more with Trump's in immigration enforcement priorities She flags that and it's worth noting in particular Lindsay because as part of his order that this case be dropped Trump's allies at the Department of Justice said they got to drop the case because Eric Adams can help with Trump's immigration Enforcement priorities, but there's more a second and third high-ranking Department of Justice official Resigned today also after this case was shifted onto their plates and that may not be the end of it Lindsay There could be more resignations to come and as the night began here in Washington and in Manhattan the case still stood Against Eric Adams. Are we hearing anything yet from Acting Deputy Attorney General? I'm above the Justice Department or Adams lawyers Adams lawyers unequivocally in a statement to CBS News deny the allegations of a quid pro quo Being offered to this federal prosecutor. It's worth noting the background of this federal prosecutor Danielle says soon who took over just a few weeks ago during some of the changeover in federal prosecutor offices nationwide It was a temp job for her. She wants clerked for Antonin Scalia Arguably the most conservative justice of our lifetimes She has in her resignation letter cited her background and her credentials When she made the argument that this was a rushed process and it was not merited that Eric Adams case should not be dropped But Lindsay, that's not the first word of protest We've heard about this the Department of Justice is rationale for dropping this case Wasn't that the facts changed or that there was a lack of confidence in his guilt. It was that it's a distraction against the mayor at a time when there's a Primary coming up for New York City's mayor in the summer and in which he could be there helping Donald Trump's priorities on immigration That's the quid pro quo that was alleged today by Danielle says soon

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