A former Trump attorney turned Justice Department official faces intense scrutiny over his handling of criminal charges against New York City Mayor Eric Adams.
According to Forbes, Democrats on the Senate Judiciary Committee have filed a complaint with the New York State Bar requesting an investigation into Emil Bove, Trump's acting deputy attorney general, for alleged professional misconduct after ordering prosecutors to drop criminal charges against Adams.
The complaint expresses "grave concern" about Bove's actions, claiming he "abused his position" by pressuring prosecutors to dismiss the case to benefit President Trump. The controversial decision has sparked a wave of resignations within the Department of Justice, including then-U.S. Attorney Danielle Sassoon and at least five other career prosecutors.
The resignation of high-ranking prosecutors marks an unprecedented protest within the Justice Department. Sassoon and lead Adams prosecutor Hagan Scotten both submitted strongly worded resignation letters condemning Bove's directive.
In their resignations, both prosecutors rejected Bove's justification for dropping the charges. They suggested political bias motivated the decision, particularly noting Adams' recent support for Trump's immigration policies.
The controversy intensified when Bove transferred the case from the Southern District of New York to the main Justice Department, claiming the New York office was "incapable of fairly and impartially reviewing" the prosecution. Even prosecutors at main Justice subsequently resigned rather than comply with the dismissal order.
Bove's directive came after Trump met with Adams at Mar-a-Lago and expressed openness to pardoning the mayor. The president had previously stated Adams was treated "pretty unfairly" in the case.
Despite being a Democrat, Adams has increasingly aligned with Trump's immigration stance. He announced New York City would no longer be a "safe haven" for violent criminals and agreed to open Rikers Island to Immigration and Customs Enforcement officials.
The case originated from a September indictment charging Adams with fraud and bribery over alleged campaign donations from the Turkish government. The mayor has maintained his innocence and refused to resign.
Former U.S. Attorney Sassoon strongly criticized Bove’s reasoning, arguing that a person should not receive leniency for federal crimes simply because they holds a significant public office and can support the administration’s policy goals.
In response, Bove defended his stance by accusing Sassoon of disregarding his oath. He argued that Sassoon was implying prosecutors have the discretion to interpret the Constitution in a way that contradicts the policies set by a democratically elected president and a Senate-confirmed attorney general.
The fate of criminal charges against Eric Adams currently rests with U.S. District Judge Dale Ho, who has declined immediate dismissal of the case. After canceling the upcoming trial, Ho appointed an external attorney for guidance and scheduled a mid-March hearing to determine the next steps.
The Senate Democrats' complaint adds to mounting pressure on Bove, following similar actions by House Democrats, watchdog groups, and a New York state senator. The controversy highlights growing concerns about political interference in Justice Department decisions and their impact on public trust in the legal system.
