Read The Brief That Recommends Dropping The Charges Against Eric Adams, Annotated

By Michael Rothfeld

March 7, 2025

After the Justice Department asked Federal District Judge Dale E. Ho to drop the corruption case against Mayor Eric Adams of New York, the judge appointed a noted conservative lawyer, Paul D. Clement, to provide him with an independent legal analysis as an “amicus,” or friend of the court. This is Clement’s brief, filed Friday and annotated by The New York Times.

Download the original PDF.

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New York Times Analysis

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The Trump administration's move to kill the Adams corruption case was assailed by critics, and by federal prosecutors in Manhattan who suggested it was part of an improper quid pro quo under which the mayor would aid Trump's immigration crackdown. Judge Ho was praised for seeking help resolving the situation from Clement, a prominent conservative lawyer and former U.S. solicitor general who has argued many cases before the Supreme Court.