On Friday, February 14, 2025, ABC 7 Chicago reported that Danielle Sassoon resigned as the Acting U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York. Her resignation follows a directive from the Justice Department to drop corruption charges against New York City Mayor Eric Adams.
Sassoon’s decision to step down came after an escalating conflict between her office and the Justice Department regarding the ongoing investigation into Adams. The mayor faces allegations of accepting illegal campaign contributions and receiving bribes in the form of discounted or free travel from individuals seeking to influence his actions.
In a brief letter addressed to Attorney General Pam Bondi, Sassoon formally communicated her resignation without referencing the Adams case. She expressed her gratitude for the opportunity to serve as a prosecutor and her pride in representing the United States.
The tensions reached a peak when Bondi expressed surprise that Sassoon had not complied with her instructions to submit paperwork to a federal judge overseeing the corruption case against Adams. Deputy Attorney General Emil Bove criticized Sassoon for her refusal to sign off on the dismissal of charges, stating that she appeared to disregard her oath to the Department of Justice.
Sassoon’s tenure was intended to be temporary until the confirmation of the president’s permanent nominee, Jay Clayton. The Justice Department had plans to reassign the prosecutors handling the Adams case to the Public Integrity Section in Washington, D.C. However, shortly after learning of the transfer, both John Keller, the acting head of the unit, and Kevin Driscoll, the senior-most career official in the criminal division, resigned.
As a result of Sassoon’s resignation and the subsequent departures from the Public Integrity Section, it remains uncertain who will take over the investigation into Mayor Adams and when the charges will be formally dropped.
Source: ABC 7 Chicago
