Danielle Sassoon, who served as the acting U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York, unexpectedly resigned on Thursday. Her departure comes in the wake of a directive from the Department of Justice to the Southern District of New York, instructing them to dismiss the pending criminal bribery case against New York City Mayor Eric Adams. The case, however, remains open as of Thursday afternoon.
The indictment against Mayor Adams was issued in September by a grand jury in the U.S. District Court in Manhattan. The charges encompass allegations of bribery, fraud, and a decade-long campaign contribution scheme. Despite the serious nature of these accusations, the Department of Justice has taken steps to terminate the proceedings.
Sassoon, who held the position of top federal prosecutor in Manhattan, did not reference the Adams case in her brief resignation letter. The letter, comprising only two sentences, was reported by NBC News, citing information from a senior official. Her role entailed overseeing the prosecution of federal crimes within Manhattan, making her resignation particularly noteworthy amidst ongoing legal proceedings against the city’s mayor.
The Southern District of New York is tasked with prosecuting federal crimes within its jurisdiction, and the decision by the Department of Justice to direct a dismissal of this high-profile case has raised eyebrows. The case against Mayor Adams remains pending, despite the DOJ's directive, leaving the legal community and public alike in anticipation of future developments.