Press Releases

Washington, D.C. (February 13, 2025)—Rep. Jamie Raskin, Ranking Member of the House Committee on the Judiciary, issued the following statement after the top U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York (SDNY) resigned rather than obey a lawless order from the Trump Department of Justice (DOJ) to drop the corruption case against New York Mayor Eric Adams: 

“Rather than carry out the corrupt orders of the Trump Administration to dismiss the massive bribery indictment against Mayor Eric Adams, Danielle Sassoon, the interim U.S. Attorney in Manhattan, took an eloquent principled stand for the rule of law and resigned, along with five top officials in the Department of Justice’s Public Integrity Section and Criminal Division. 
 
“In doing so, she brought to light disturbing accounts of a quid pro quo and a cover-up within the Department of Justice.
 
“Sassoon was witness to a corrupt bargain between Mayor Adams and the Trump DOJ in exchange for the Mayor’s obedience in carrying out a cruel deportation agenda. This is stunning—but no longer surprising. The Trump Administration is thoroughly corrupt and been very willing to set criminals free if they prove their total loyalty to Trump and his corrupt schemes. 

“Further, Sassoon’s resignation letter recounts how Trump’s Acting Attorney General, Emil Bove, attempted to cover up the illegal deal by demanding the collection of notes by prosecutors recording the corrupt quid pro quo deal. Bove also vowed to investigate and discipline the prosecutors who did their job investigating the robust corruption case against Mayor Adams.

“The Trump DOJ sends a clear message: lawyers with allegiance to the Constitution over the President need not serve and need not apply.

“Democrats will not stand by while the Trump Administration dismantles and destroys the Department of Justice and justice itself. We will continue to fight back and bring to light every episode of corruption and criminality.  I strongly encourage any individuals with information on this matter to reach out to the Democratic Staff on the House Judiciary Committee." 

Background:
Click here for contact information for the Democratic Staff on the House Judiciary Committee.

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