Danielle Sassoon, acting US Attorney for the Southern District of New York, resigned following pressure from the US Justice Department not to proceed with a case against NYC Mayor Eric Adams.
Danielle Sassoon's Resignation
According to a February 13 report by The New York Times, Danielle Sassoon resigned after being instructed by a US Justice Department official appointed by President Donald Trump not to proceed with a corruption case against NYC Mayor Eric Adams. Sassoon was part of the team that prosecuted former FTX CEO Sam Bankman-Fried and many cases involving the crypto industry.
Case Against NYC Mayor
The US Attorney's Office indicted NYC Mayor Eric Adams on corruption charges in September 2024 for allegedly receiving illegal donations from the Turkish government. President Trump defended Adams, claiming the mayor was targeted due to his criticism of the Biden administration's immigration policies. Acting US Deputy Attorney General Emil Bove instructed Sassoon to pause Adams' case until the Senate could confirm a new US Attorney for the Southern District of New York.
Eric Adams' Role in the Crypto Industry
Eric Adams, who took office in 2022, became known in the crypto industry following his campaign pledge to accept his first three paychecks in Bitcoin (BTC). After the cryptocurrency's price surged by 50%, the NYC mayor boasted about his holdings to the press. During his 2021 campaign, Adams pledged to make New York City the center of Bitcoins.
At the time of publication, it remains unclear who will replace Danielle Sassoon as the acting US Attorney for the Southern District of New York. The circumstances surrounding her resignation highlight the tensions between different levels of government regarding prosecutorial actions in politics and the crypto industry.
