Mayor Eric Adams’ criminal case will stay in limbo for several more weeks – as a federal judge said Friday he wants to hear from an independent lawyer before deciding whether to toss the charges.
Manhattan federal Judge Dale Ho ordered Adams’ April 21 corruption trial adjourned as he appointed former US Solicitor General Paul Clement to argue against the Justice Department’s position that the mayor’s case should be dismissed.
He wrote in a 5-page order that such an argument was necessary to hear because the DOJ effectively took the same position as Adams’ defense — and “in light of the public importance of this case, which calls for careful deliberation.”
The move comes after a hearing earlier this week in which both the government and Adams’ lawyers urged the court to dismiss the bribery case, which they claimed was stopping the mayor from helping with President Trump’s immigration agenda.
The judge noted Friday he would “endeavor to rule expeditiously” after hearing Clement’s arguments, and potentially counterarguments from the feds and Adams’ lawyers.
The court asked Clement to file his arguments by March 4, and asked the parties to hold March 14 for a potential hearing, though Adams won’t have to appear.
