CNN Legal Analyst Says Trump DOJ Is Causing 'Existential Crisis' With Eric Adams Case

The Justice Department ordered federal prosecutors to drop corruption charges against Adams, notably after the New York City mayor curried favor with Trump.

CNN senior legal analyst Elie Honig is excoriating the U.S. Department of Justice, which, under Attorney General Pam Bondi and acting Deputy Attorney General Emil Bove, ordered prosecutors last week to drop corruption charges against New York City Mayor Eric Adams.

In a Monday article written for New York magazine’s Intelligencer, Honig said that this has “mushroomed into a full-on existential crisis for the Justice Department,” as Bove’s order prompted several resignations from key federal prosecutors, including one who said it “amounted to a quid pro quo.”

Adams was indicted in September on allegations he accepted bribes and illegal campaign contributions, but curried favor with Trump in recent months, particularly by working with him on immigration, leading to speculation that the DOJ order was a reward for Adams’ loyalty.

Bove argued in his directive that the case should be dropped so Adams could continue to help the Trump administration enforce its immigration policy, prompting Honig to condemn everyone involved for both a lack of principles and self-awareness.

He wrote in his article that Bove “told us quite explicitly” that the order was politically motivated and that the resulting public outrage could’ve been avoided had the DOJ decided that the case was “too thin” or had Trump pardoned Adams personally.