(NewsNation) — New York City Mayor Eric Adams held a news conference this morning, hours after corruption charges against him were ordered to be dropped.
It came from the Justice Department on Monday night, with the charges ordered to be dropped immediately.
A lack of evidence was not the reason, but rather the charges causing challenges to Adams’s reelection campaign and ability to carry out efforts against illegal immigration and crime.
“It is worth repeating the facts because many sensational and false claims have been made. So, let me be clear, I never asked anyone to break the law on my behalf, or on behalf of my campaign,” Adams said Tuesday.
In a two-page memo obtained by the Associated Press, acting Deputy Attorney General Emil Bove wrote: “The pending prosecution has unduly restricted Mayor Adams’ ability to devote full attention and resources to the illegal immigration and violent crime.”
The memo follows months of speculation that President Donald Trump would take steps to end the case against Adams, who was charged in September with accepting bribes of free or discounted travel and illegal campaign contributions from foreign nationals seeking to buy his influence.
Adams, a Democrat elected on a centrist platform, has moved noticeably right following his indictment, rankling some within his party.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.