In a striking development, three federal prosecutors involved in the corruption case against New York Mayor Eric Adams have resigned. The prosecutors, Celia V. Cohen, Andrew Rohrbach, and Derek Wikstrom, allege that they were pressured by the Department of Justice (DOJ) to admit wrongdoing as a condition to return to their positions. This demand for a ‘confession’ comes as a surprise and has raised questions over the DOJ’s conduct in the matter.
The case against Adams centers around allegations that he accepted illegal campaign contributions and travel upgrades for political favors during his tenure as the Brooklyn borough president. Adams, who has pled not guilty, claims political motivations are at play, pointing to his critical stance on the Biden administration’s immigration policy.
The prosecutors articulated their grievances in a letter to Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche, stating that admitting wrongdoing “when there was none” is unacceptable. The letter was obtained by Bloomberg News, where they emphasized their commitment to pursuing justice impartially under various administrations.
The turmoil in the Manhattan US Attorney’s Office is not new; other prosecutors have previously stepped down over similar concerns about political interference. Hagan Scotten and interim US Attorney Danielle Sassoon resigned earlier this year, citing inappropriate demands to quash the case for political reasons.
These resignations coincide with the court’s recent dismissal of the Adams case by US District Judge Dale Ho. While Ho criticized the DOJ’s actions in overseeing the case, he absolved the line prosecutors of any ill intent, asserting there was “zero” evidence of improper motives.
The resignations also come as former SEC Chair Jay Clayton assumes the role of interim Manhattan US Attorney, pending a potential Senate blockade of his confirmation by Senator Chuck Schumer.