House Democrats Request Details on Eric Adams' Interactions with DOJ
The attention on Capitol Hill arises just days before the New York City mayor is scheduled to testify before lawmakers.
TroibNews 
Two senior Democrats from the House Judiciary Committee are initiating an investigation into the Justice Department's decision to dismiss corruption charges against their fellow party member, New York City Mayor Eric Adams. This situation highlights the decline of Adams' standing among Democrats as he prepares for a challenging primary reelection campaign in June.
In a recent letter addressed to Attorney General Pam Bondi, which was shared exclusively with PMG, Reps. Jamie Raskin of Maryland and Jasmine Crockett of Texas—ranking members of the House Judiciary Committee and the oversight subcommittee, respectively—express concerns that the Justice Department's choice to drop the case against Adams suggests impropriety.
“Last month, troubling reports emerged about the Trump Administration’s demand that federal prosecutors move to dismiss the serious public corruption charges against New York City Mayor Eric Adams as part of a blatant and illegal quid pro quo to secure the Mayor’s loyal assistance in executing the Trump Administration’s mass arrest and deportation policies,” the House Democrats state in the letter.
Adams faced charges in September for allegedly accepting illegal campaign contributions and gifts from Turkish officials, which he has strongly denied. However, the Trump administration recently decided to dismiss the case, asserting that it would interfere with Adams’ cooperation with federal immigration enforcement and his reelection efforts.
Shortly after the Justice Department announced its intention to drop the charges, Adams communicated with Tom Homan, President Donald Trump’s border czar, indicating that he would permit Immigration and Customs Enforcement access to the Rikers Island jail facility, a significant shift from recent New York City policies.
“Unfortunately, this is yet another example of the Trump DOJ allowing criminals to go free — whether they assaulted police officers, sold drugs to the community, or are corrupt politicians — as long as the criminals pledge loyalty to President Trump,” Raskin and Crockett note in their correspondence to Bondi.
The charges against Adams have not been formally retracted. A federal judge has requested that former U.S. solicitor general Paul Clement present arguments regarding the case.
Raskin and Crockett are seeking all notes from a January 31 meeting between Adams’ team and the Justice Department, as well as early communications between officials from the Trump White House and the Justice Department concerning the investigation into Adams, among other relevant documents.
Adams has consistently rejected allegations of wrongdoing and any implication that he is inappropriately beholden to the current administration. “Mayor Adams has been clear that his loyalty is solely to the 8.3 million New Yorkers he represents," stated an Adams spokesperson. "Despite this investigation and case, we’ve simultaneously broken housing records, created the most jobs in the city’s history, provided for hundreds of thousands of longtime New Yorkers and migrants, built unprecedented public spaces, and made our city safer at every level. Mayor Adams will continue delivering for New Yorkers every day.”
The Department of Justice has not responded to a request for comment.
Raskin and Crockett's investigative capabilities are somewhat restricted, as they are part of the minority party and lack the authority to issue subpoenas or compel testimony.
However, the timing of their inquiry is notable, as Adams is set to appear on Capitol Hill alongside three other mayors from major Democratic cities to advocate for their immigration policies. Each of these mayors represents a “sanctuary city,” where local laws conflict with federal immigration directives, including mass deportations.
Adams and the other mayors will testify before the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee, which includes Crockett as a member.
Anna Muller contributed to this report for TROIB News
In a recent letter addressed to Attorney General Pam Bondi, which was shared exclusively with PMG, Reps. Jamie Raskin of Maryland and Jasmine Crockett of Texas—ranking members of the House Judiciary Committee and the oversight subcommittee, respectively—express concerns that the Justice Department's choice to drop the case against Adams suggests impropriety.
“Last month, troubling reports emerged about the Trump Administration’s demand that federal prosecutors move to dismiss the serious public corruption charges against New York City Mayor Eric Adams as part of a blatant and illegal quid pro quo to secure the Mayor’s loyal assistance in executing the Trump Administration’s mass arrest and deportation policies,” the House Democrats state in the letter.
Adams faced charges in September for allegedly accepting illegal campaign contributions and gifts from Turkish officials, which he has strongly denied. However, the Trump administration recently decided to dismiss the case, asserting that it would interfere with Adams’ cooperation with federal immigration enforcement and his reelection efforts.
Shortly after the Justice Department announced its intention to drop the charges, Adams communicated with Tom Homan, President Donald Trump’s border czar, indicating that he would permit Immigration and Customs Enforcement access to the Rikers Island jail facility, a significant shift from recent New York City policies.
“Unfortunately, this is yet another example of the Trump DOJ allowing criminals to go free — whether they assaulted police officers, sold drugs to the community, or are corrupt politicians — as long as the criminals pledge loyalty to President Trump,” Raskin and Crockett note in their correspondence to Bondi.
The charges against Adams have not been formally retracted. A federal judge has requested that former U.S. solicitor general Paul Clement present arguments regarding the case.
Raskin and Crockett are seeking all notes from a January 31 meeting between Adams’ team and the Justice Department, as well as early communications between officials from the Trump White House and the Justice Department concerning the investigation into Adams, among other relevant documents.
Adams has consistently rejected allegations of wrongdoing and any implication that he is inappropriately beholden to the current administration. “Mayor Adams has been clear that his loyalty is solely to the 8.3 million New Yorkers he represents," stated an Adams spokesperson. "Despite this investigation and case, we’ve simultaneously broken housing records, created the most jobs in the city’s history, provided for hundreds of thousands of longtime New Yorkers and migrants, built unprecedented public spaces, and made our city safer at every level. Mayor Adams will continue delivering for New Yorkers every day.”
The Department of Justice has not responded to a request for comment.
Raskin and Crockett's investigative capabilities are somewhat restricted, as they are part of the minority party and lack the authority to issue subpoenas or compel testimony.
However, the timing of their inquiry is notable, as Adams is set to appear on Capitol Hill alongside three other mayors from major Democratic cities to advocate for their immigration policies. Each of these mayors represents a “sanctuary city,” where local laws conflict with federal immigration directives, including mass deportations.
Adams and the other mayors will testify before the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee, which includes Crockett as a member.
Anna Muller contributed to this report for TROIB News
