Federal prosecutors resign over pressure to admit wrongdoing in Eric Adams case
- Three federal prosecutors resigned after being placed on administrative leave amid a probe into their management of a corruption case against Eric Adams.
- They alleged that they faced pressure from the Deputy Attorney General to confess to wrongdoing and express regret regarding the case dismissal.
- Their departure underscores concerns about ethics and professional integrity within the Justice Department amidst political pressures.
In the United States, three federal prosecutors involved in a corruption case against New York City Mayor Eric Adams resigned. Their resignation followed a period of administrative leave initiated as part of a probe into their handling of the now-dismissed case against Adams. On April 2, 2025, a federal judge dismissed the charges against Adams, a decision that stirred significant controversy. The prosecutors, Celia V. Cohen, Andrew Rohrbach, and Derek Wikstrom, claimed that they were pressured by Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche to express regret and admit to wrongdoing regarding the dismissal of the case, which they firmly refused to do. They argued that they acted ethically and within legal guidelines throughout the process and could not confess to any improprieties, as doing so would violate the integrity of their positions. Their resignation letter, shared with media outlets, highlighted their commitment to do the right thing, which they felt was compromised under current leadership in the Justice Department.