Attorney Paul Clement Says Drop Case Against Eric Adams

The attorney tapped to review efforts to toss criminal charges against Mayor Eric Adams told a federal judge on Friday what he decided. The case should be dropped, he said, without the possibility to revive it.

Attorney Paul Clement filed a brief on Friday concluding that the corruption charges against Adams should be dismissed with prejudice. The Department of Justice’s motion sought dismissal without prejudice, which would leave the door open to the charges being renewed after the November mayoral election.

Elected officials as well as former federal prosecutors viewed the DOJ’s request as a blatant attempt to maintain leverage over the mayor to ensure compliance with the Trump administration’s immigration policies, as well as other priorities. In his brief, Clement acknowledged this concern, stating that the possibility of reopening the case would hang “like the proverbial sword of Damocles over the accused.”

“There is an inherent risk that once an indictment has been procured, the prospect of reindictment could create the appearance, if not the reality, that the actions of a public official are being driven by concerns about staying in the good graces of the federal executive, rather than the best interests of his constituents,” Clement wrote.

The 57-page indictment, which was unsealed in September, accused Adams of receiving illegal campaign contributions, as well as various discounted and upgraded international trips and stays at luxury hotels.

In return, in one instance, Adams put pressure on the city’s fire commissioner to accelerate a key approval needed to open a new, 36-story Turkish consular building at 821 United Nations Plaza.

Judge Dale Ho appointed Clement last month to review the case and present independent arguments on the motion to dismiss.