Name: Judge Questions Request to Drop Charges Against NYC Mayor
Uploaded: 2025-02-20T06:07:10.000Z
Description: A federal judge on Feb. 19 asked questions about what he described as an unusual request to drop charges against New York City's mayor.

Jack Bradley is a Washington correspondent for NTD News based in Washington, D.C. Jack previously anchored "NTD Newsroom" and worked as an assistant producer for the show. 

Jack Bradley

NTD Plus

News

News with integrity, from the U.S. and around the world. Focused reports and analyses that shed light on major issues the world deserves to know. NTD Evening News airs daily at 6 p.m. ET.

NTD Evening News

China’s Broken Promises Loom Over New Trade Deals

David Lam is a national correspondent based in California and a part-time anchor for "NTD Tonight." Before joining NTD he was a financial analyst.

David Lam

Californians React as Trump Calls for Gas Tax Suspension

Arleen Richards is NTD's legal correspondent based at the network's global headquarters in New York City, where she covers all major legal stories. Arleen holds a Doctor of Law (J.D.).


Arleen Richards

Federal Agencies Announce ‘Summer Surge’ of Law Enforcement into DC Ahead of 250th Anniversary

Christina Corona is a California-based reporter for NTD News. She primarily covers California news, politics, and entertainment.  

Christina Corona

Trump Administration Reports Zero Border Releases

Arian Pasdar is an international correspondent for NTD News based in South America. His reporting focuses on immigration and key events in Latin America.

Arian Pasdar

US to Host 1st Ever World Cup Final Halftime Show, Featuring Shakira, Madonna

Savannah Pointer is a politics reporter for The Epoch Times. She can be reached at savannah.pointer@epochtimes.us

Savannah Hulsey Pointer

Jason Perry is an Army veteran and NTD's National Security Correspondent based at the network's global headquarters in New York City. Jason primarily covers border security, national defense, foreign wars, and veterans' issues.

Jason Perry

Health News

Texas Children's Hospital to Open First-Ever Detransition Clinic Under Deal With DOJ

Sam Wang is a Washington correspondent for NTD News based in Washington, D.C. Sam covers politics on Capitol Hill, and U.S.-China relations. 

Sam Wang

Citizens Honor Police for Their Service and Sacrifice

Cary Dunst is the news anchor for NTD Evening News. He is also the co-host of NTD Good Morning.


Cary Dunst

Trump ‘Projecting American Influence and Leadership’ on Iran Issue in Beijing: China Expert

Chris Bob is a reporter for NTD and a host of "Profiles of Service." He is also a small business owner. Chris graduated from Union College with a concentration in politics and religion in Russia and the former Soviet Union.

Chris Bob

Senate Panel Advances Crypto Regulation Bill

Jason Blair is a national correspondent for NTD News based in California. 

Jason Blair

Lawmakers Weigh ‘Sanctuary’ Polices After Woman’s Death in Virginia

NTD Evening News Full Broadcast (May 15)

NTD Evening News Full Broadcast (May 14)

NTD Evening News Full Broadcast (May 13)

NTD Evening News Full Broadcast (May 12)

NTD Evening News Full Broadcast (May 11)

Don Ma is an anchor and senior business correspondent based at the network's global headquarters in New York City. Don is the anchor and producer of NTD's "Business Matters," which airs weekdays at 4:30 pm ET.

Don Ma

NTD Evening News Full Broadcast (May 10)

NTD Evening News Full Broadcast (May 9)

NTD Evening News Full Broadcast (May 8)

NTD Evening News Full Broadcast (May 7)

NTD Evening News Full Broadcast (May 6)

NTD Newsroom comprises teams of reporters, editors, and producers assigned to cover breaking news and other stories.


NTD Newsroom

Fast, compelling, first-hand news from China. China in Focus airs Monday–Friday at 8 p.m. ET.

China in Focus

China Sends Warships to Pacific Drill as Tensions With Japan Rise

Reuters is a news agency owned by Thomson Reuters. It employs around 2,500 journalists and 600 photojournalists in about 200 locations worldwide writing in 16 languages.

Reuters

We present news that is truthful and based on facts, outside of the political fog. Instead of focusing on the negative things happening around us, our mission is to give our viewers a good morning with empathetic and uplifting stories. Our aim is to provide an antidote to negativity by shining a light on the best side of people. We speak to inspiring people who positively impact communities, pursue topics that represent our common human values, and will never miss an opportunity to bring you heartwarming stories.

NTD Good Morning

2 US Embassy Personnel Assigned to Cartel Case Killed in Car Accident

The Associated Press is an American not-for-profit news agency headquartered in New York City. 

The Associated Press

US News

Gunman Kills 8 Children, Including 7 of His Own, in Louisiana Mass Shooting

Flora Hua is a reporter based at NTD's global headquarters in New York City, where she covers China news, U.S.-China relations, and human rights issues. Flora primarily contributes to NTD's "China in Focus."  

Flora Hua

Trump: Seized Iranian Ship May Have ‘A Gift From China’

Joseph Lord is a congressional reporter for The Epoch Times.


Joseph Lord

Aldgra Fredly is a freelance writer covering U.S. and Asia Pacific news for The Epoch Times.

Aldgra Fredly

Former NYC Mayor Rudy Giuliani Hospitalized in Critical Condition: Spokesman

Wildfires Across Georgia and Florida Have Destroyed Nearly 50 Homes and Are Forcing Evacuations

News you can trust from the U.S. and around the world. Critical information and insight. We cover the stories that others don’t. NTD News Today airs Monday–Friday at 11 a.m. ET.

NTD News Today

US Warns of China Hacks via Routers, Smart Devices

Juliet Song is an international correspondent exclusively covering China news for NTD. She primarily contributes to NTD's "China in Focus," covering U.S.-China relations, the Chinese regime's human rights abuses, and domestic unrest inside China.

Juliet Song

2 Americans Among Suspected Communist Rebels Killed in Clashes With Troops, Philippine Officials Say

Ryan Morgan is a reporter for The Epoch Times focusing on military and foreign affairs. He was previously a news writer for NTD. 


Ryan Morgan

Mari Otsu is NTD's White House correspondent based in Washington. 

Mari Otsu

World News

Middle East

Iran

3 US Warships Fend Off Iranian Attacks, Trump Says Ceasefire Still Holds

3 Dead in Suspected Hantavirus Outbreak on Cruise Ship in Atlantic Ocean: WHO

A federal judge on Feb. 19 asked questions about what he described as an unusual request to drop charges against New York City's mayor.

At the outset of the hearing, U.S. District Judge Dale Ho said he was aware that he had little discretion after the government asked to dismiss the charges, noting that courts have found prosecutors are the best judges of whether or not a case should continue. But he said judges do have a "limited role to play."

"To properly discharge my duty, I want to proceed carefully," Ho said.

The judge said he had questions about how to handle what he thinks "everyone would agree is a somewhat unusual situation."

<a href="https://www.theepochtimes.com/us/federal-judge-unseals-indictment-against-new-york-mayor-eric-adams-alleging-he-took-bribes-5730655">Prosecutors in 2024</a> charged New York City Mayor Eric Adams with accepting illegal campaign contributions and improper benefits, such as luxury travel, from foreigners. The Democrat pleaded not guilty.

After President Donald Trump took office, acting Deputy Attorney General Emil Bove with the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) said he <a href="https://www.theepochtimes.com/us/justice-department-orders-dismissal-of-charges-against-nyc-mayor-eric-adams-5807665">reviewed the case</a> and became concerned that prosecutorial actions might taint the jury pool. He also said continuing the prosecution would interfere with the mayor's ability to govern and cooperate with the federal government against illegal immigration.

Several federal prosecutors resigned rather than file a motion to dismiss the charges.

Bove and two other DOJ officials ended up signing the motion, which was lodged with the court <a href="https://www.theepochtimes.com/us/doj-asks-judge-to-throw-out-charges-against-nyc-mayor-adams-5810349">on Feb. 14</a>. It stated in part that dismissal is necessary "because of appearances of impropriety." Officials said Adams consented to the motion.

Ho, rather than immediately agreeing to dismiss the charges, ordered the parties to appear at Wednesday's hearing to delve into the matter.

Ho had written that the hearing would go over the reason for the government's motion, the contours of Adams's consent to the motion, and "the procedure for resolution of the motion."

During the hearing, Ho questioned Adams over how the charges could be dismissed without prejudice, which would allow prosecutors to potentially bring them again in the future.

"I'm not afraid of that," Adams said. He said he is innocent.

U.S. District Judge Dale Ho presides as New York City Mayor Eric Adams attends a court appearance in federal court after being charged with bribery and illegally soliciting a campaign contribution from a foreign national, in New York City on Oct. 2, 2024. (Jane Rosenberg/Reuters)

Adams attended the hearing as New York Gov. Kathy Hochul mulls removing him from office. She met with political leaders this week as she considers the move.

Danielle Sassoon, a Republican who was acting U.S. attorney for the Southern District of New York at the time, wrote to Bove on Feb. 12 declining to obey his order to ask the court to dismiss the charges against Adams.

“It is a breathtaking and dangerous precedent to reward Adams’s opportunistic and shifting commitments on immigration and other policy matters with dismissal of a criminal indictment,” she wrote.

Sassoon soon stepped down from her position.

Chad Mizelle, chief of staff at the DOJ, <a href="https://x.com/ChadMizelle47/status/1892268418058858874">wrote</a> on social media platform X on Wednesday that the case was on shaky ground because the federal public corruption law Adams allegedly violated requires an official act in exchange for benefits, but that the main allegation in the indictment—Adams being asked for help to make sure Turkey's new consulate in New York City opened quickly—happened before Adams even entered office.

"Given the history, DOJ had to decide—among other issues—whether to keep going down a road that the Supreme Court has viewed with skepticism on numerous occasions," he said. "Dismissing the prosecution was absolutely the right call."

This is a developing story that will be updated.

Reuters contributed to this report.

From <a href="https://www.theepochtimes.com/us/judge-questions-unusual-request-to-drop-charges-against-nyc-mayor-5812821">The Epoch Times</a>

Latest

Videos

04_Top Stories

New York

Latest Clips

Zachary Stieber is a senior reporter for The Epoch Times based in Maryland. He covers U.S. and world news. Contact Zachary at zack.stieber@epochtimes.com

Zachary Stieber

Courts

State News

Latest and breaking news, documentaries, movies, and lifestyle content on NTD+.
 
Empower your knowledge and elevate your spirit with NTD+, your go-to destination for truthful news, insightful documentaries, and captivating lifestyle content that enriches your life.