Judge Dale Ho stated that while he had concerns about the Justice Department’s decision to dismiss the case, he could not compel them to prosecute. In his ruling, Ho criticized the Trump administration’s rationale, suggesting the case’s dismissal was tied to political considerations, particularly regarding immigration policy.
He noted that the DOJ’s approach had led to several high-profile resignations, including top public corruption prosecutors and the acting U.S. attorney for the Southern District of New York.
In a strongly worded opinion, Ho rejected the DOJ’s claim that New York prosecutors were politically motivated, arguing that dismissing the charges appeared to be a concession in exchange for policy alignment. He warned that such an approach implied that public officials could receive special treatment if they aligned with the administration’s agenda—something he called fundamentally incompatible with equal justice under the law.
A DOJ spokesperson defended the decision, calling the case politically driven and a misallocation of resources, while Eric Adams’ attorney maintained that the charges should never have been filed. The judge ultimately ruled that dismissing the case without prejudice would leave Adams vulnerable to political pressure, so he barred future prosecution of the charges. He clarified that his ruling was not a judgment on Adams’ guilt or innocence but rather an effort to ensure transparency and protect the integrity of the legal system.
