A federal judge recently dismissed a criminal case against New York City Mayor Eric Adams. The dismissal comes after the Trump administration directed prosecutors to drop the charges – but it comes with a twist.

The Case Against Mayor Eric Adams

New York City Mayor Eric Adams faced allegations that he had accepted gifts of more than $100,000 from Turkish citizens in exchange for providing favors. The indictment sought to hold Adams accountable under federal criminal law.

In February 2025, however, acting deputy attorney general Emil Bove ordered the prosecution to drop the case against Mayor Adams. Bove stated that Adams couldn’t address “illegal immigration and violent crime” effectively with the federal charges looming in the background. 

Bove’s order led to the resignation of a Manhattan federal prosecutor and six Justice Department officials. The officials noted that there was no legal justification for dismissing the case. 

Instead, they said, it looked like an attempt by the Trump administration to manipulate Mayor Adams. In a letter to Attorney General Pam Bondi, Manhattan federal prosecutor Danielle Sassoon said that the deal amounted to a “quid pro quo” in which Adams would help the Trump administration carry out its immigration plans in exchange for dismissal of the charges. 

The Court’s Decision

US federal district judge Dale Ho chose to dismiss the case against Mayor Adams. However, Judge Ho made it clear in his legal opinion that he did not dismiss the case because he believed that the case prevented Mayor Adams from enforcing federal immigration actions. 

Rather, “everything here smacks of a bargain: dismissal of the Indictment in exchange for immigration policy concessions,” Judge Ho wrote. 

The judge noted that he could not force the prosecutor’s office to continue the case if the office had decided not to pursue it further. For this reason, he wrote, it made little sense to deny the motion to dismiss. However, the judge also noted the risk that the prosecutor’s office could re-file the charges in the future – continuing to use the threat of prosecution as a bargaining tool to ensure Mayor Adams and his office met the Trump administration’s expectations on immigration policy. 

Judge Ho dismissed the charges. To ensure that a dismissal could not result in further leverage over the Mayor or his office, however, Judge Ho dismissed those charges “with prejudice.” 

What It Means to Dismiss a Case “With Prejudice” 

When a party seeks to dismiss a criminal case, they can ask for one of two types of dismissal: Dismissal “without prejudice” or dismissal “with prejudice.”

“Without prejudice” leaves the door open for the charges to be filed again in the future. A prosecutor’s office may ask for a dismissal “without prejudice” if they cannot currently prove a case but believe they will be able to do so after further investigation, for example. Other situations can also result in a request for dismissal “without prejudice.” 

“With prejudice,” closes the door. A case dismissed with prejudice cannot be filed again in the future, no matter what new evidence comes to light or what else may happen. The case is over. 

In Mayor Adams’ case, prosecutors requested a dismissal “without prejudice.” Such a dismissal would allow them to re-open the case in the future.

In a 78-page opinion, US District Judge Ho explained why he believed a dismissal “without prejudice” was unwise in Mayor Adams’ case. Specifically, the judge was concerned that federal prosecutors would use the possibility of new charges as a way to influence immigration policy decisions made by the mayor or his office. 

To prevent any such use of a threat in the future, Judge Ho dismissed the case “with prejudice.” Now, the Trump administration cannot re-open the case.

Dismissal “with prejudice” allows a charged person to move on with their life. The case cannot be reopened in the future. For this reason, many defense attorneys specify “with prejudice” when they ask for a case to be dismissed. 

Speak To an Experienced New York Criminal Defense Attorney Today

Navigating a criminal case can be tough. Many decisions made early in the process can influence the outcome – closing down opportunities to prove your innocence, offer mitigating evidence, or otherwise fight for the best possible outcome in your case. 

If you’ve been arrested or charged, or you suspect you’re under investigation, speak to an experienced New York criminal defense attorney immediately. Working with an experienced attorney is your best option to fight for justice. The team at the Brill Legal Group can help.