DOJ meets with NYC Mayor Eric Adams' lawyers about dropping corruption case, source says
NEW YORK -- Lawyers for the Justice Department met with New York City Mayor Eric Adams' defense team and Manhattan federal prosecutors on Friday to discuss dropping the corruption case against him, a source familiar with the matter says.
The meeting in Washington, D.C. came two days after it was reported senior DOJ officials discussed possibly dropping charges against the embattled mayor.
The Justice Department did not comment on the earlier report and there is no indication that the New York prosecutors who brought the case want to dismiss the case.
In September, Adams was indicted on five counts including bribery, conspiracy and campaign finance violations, all of which he pleaded not guilty to.
The mayor is currently set to face trial in April. The penalty if convicted on all counts could be up to 45 years in prison.
Mayor Adams' relationship with President Trump
Conversations like the one between the Justice Department and Adams' legal team are normal in criminal cases. But this stands out because of the mayor's relationship with President Donald Trump, CBS News New York's Marcia Kramer reported.
Adams traveled to Florida to meet with Mr. Trump days before attending the inauguration in Washington, D.C. The meeting was criticized by some of the mayor's political opponents, since Mr. Trump said in December he would consider pardoning the mayor.
After the trip to Mr. Trump's golf club in Palm Beach, Adams said they did not discuss his corruption case.
