The judge in Mayor Adams’ now-dismissed corruption case on Friday ordered a trove of documents be released.
The documents, which are slated to be released Friday, May 2, could provide a window into the case, which never made it to trial. They include some search warrant materials, affidavits describing evidence and discovery indexes, among other documents.
Adams’ case was dropped earlier in April after Trump’s Department of Justice stepped in, arguing that the charges must be dropped in order to mayor to help carry out the administration hardline immigration agenda. Adams has denied any quid pro quo existed.
The case was originally scheduled to go on trial this week.
Prosecutors alleged the mayor had accepted tens of thousands of dollars in bribes from associates of the Turkish government who later allegedly cashed in on the “transactional relationship” by asking the then-up-and-coming politician to carry out political favors. Adams has denied doing anything wrong.
The New York Times and the New York Post both filed motions, which were unopposed to release the documents.
“The first of its kind- never should have been brought in the first place – airline upgrade corruption case is over,” Adams’ criminal defense lawyer, Alex Spiro, wrote in a statement in response to the order.
Names of law enforcement officers and unindicted subject will be redacted, Judge Dale Ho wrote in his order.
“We appreciate the court’s decision, which affirms the public’s right to access judicial information,” a spokesperson for the Times wrote in a statement. “These documents will help the public understand more fully why this prosecution was brought, the evidence that supported it, and whether justice was served by DOJ’s decision to drop the case.”
Representatives for the Post did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
