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A day after Mayor Eric Adams visited President-elect Donald J. Trump in Florida, his attorneys filed court papers in the mayor’s federal corruption case saying he was trying to advance the the former prosecutor brought the case as a political activity.
The lawyer, Alex Spiro, wrote a letter on Saturday to the judge overseeing the case, saying that the article about the recent opinion of the former prosecutor, Damian Williams, could harm the group ‘the judge against Adams and included in Mr. Williams’ plan. run for mayor or other political office.
“The conclusion here is inescapable,” Mr. Spiro said. “Mr. Williams has brought an unethical case against a political rival to boost his immediate candidacy, which could include being mayor of New York City. “
Mr. Williams announced the charges against Mr. Adams in September, when he was US attorney for the Southern District of New York; he resigned in mid-December. He argued in an opinion piece, published last week in City & State, that the city was in a “deep crisis” and “led by a moral compass.”
The article did not directly address the prosecution of Mr. Adams. But its publication, along with a new website highlighting Mr. Williams’ achievements, has sent New York’s political world into a frenzy, with some wondering whether he might run for office, possibly for governor.
Mr. Williams did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Nicholas Biase, a spokesman for the Southern District, declined to comment.
Mr. Adams, a Democrat, is running for a second term in the June primary. He will go on trial in April on corruption and fraud charges. He maintained his innocence and pleaded not guilty.
Mr. Trump said he was considering pardoning Mr. Adams, saying both he and the mayor had been “hounded” by prosecutors. The two men had lunch at Trump International Golf Course in West Palm Beach on Friday; Mr Adams said they did not discuss his legal case.
Mr. Spiro asked the judge to consider Mr. Williams’ actions as part of the mayor’s efforts to get rid of the case, and he called on the Justice Department to open an investigation into whether Mr. the prosecution of the mayor was brought.
Mr. Spiro argued that the tainting of the jury pool was “irreversible” and that Mr. Williams “underestimated Mayor Adams’ reputation for his own political gain.”
Mr. Williams served as U.S. Attorney for the Southern District from 2021 to 2024 and oversaw several high-profile cases, including the prosecution of former New Jersey Senator Robert Menendez and the rapper Sean Combs. Before President Biden appointed him as an assistant US attorney in the office for nine years, leading the defense fraud unit during that time. He recently announced that he will join the law firm of Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison as a partner in the litigation department.
Mr Trump chose Jay Clayton, the top Wall Street enforcer during his first administration, to replace Mr Williams. Mr. Clayton still has to be confirmed by the Senate.
Benjamin Weiss SY William K. Rashbaum contributed to the report.
