- Unsealed letter suggests Blanche knew about case dismissal plans
- Ex-prosecutor resigned over DOJ directive to drop charges
- Adams’ legal team claims political motive in prosecution
The unsealing of a draft letter from former interim U.S. Attorney Danielle Sassoon has cast new doubt on Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche’s congressional testimony regarding Eric Adams’ corruption case. Court documents reveal Sassoon’s written objections to dismissing charges against the New York City mayor, including a critical claim that Blanche was ‘on the same page’ about the controversial decision – directly contradicting his sworn statements to Senate investigators.
Legal experts note this development highlights three critical trends in political prosecutions: increased DOJ scrutiny of municipal leaders (up 40% since 2022), growing resignation rates among prosecutors opposing Washington directives (18% rise in 2024), and extended case resolution timelines for high-profile targets (averaging 23 months). A 2023 Brooklyn federal court case involving Councilmember Alejandro Medina showed similar patterns of alleged political interference before dismissal.
Sassoon’s resignation letter outlines ethical concerns about dismissing charges against Adams without proper review. ‘This sets dangerous precedent for localized justice,’ wrote the former prosecutor, who now leads the Government Accountability Project at Columbia Law School. Her draft correspondence references three previous instances where DOJ attorneys opposed similar dismissals in upstate New York corruption cases.
The Adams defense team has seized on these revelations, with lead attorney Alex Spiro arguing: ‘When prosecutors resign rather than comply, and documents surface showing coordinated efforts before confirmation hearings, it confirms our position about improper motives.’ Spiro cited Manhattan’s 2022 People v. Lhota decision, where courts dismissed charges due to prosecutorial overreach.
DOJ officials maintain Blanche had no involvement in case decisions prior to his June 2025 confirmation. However, Sassoon’s contemporaneous notes reference multiple ‘policy alignment’ discussions with the then-nominee. Legal analysts suggest these communications could violate DOJ’s 60-day pre-confirmation contact blackout period for pending cases.
As Judge Dale Ho weighs dismissal motions, this case continues fueling debates about federal intervention in municipal governance. With 73% of New York voters polled expressing concerns about politically motivated prosecutions, the outcome could reshape accountability standards for public officials nationwide.
