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Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsDeadline: Legal Blog-Setting the record straight on the Eric Adams dismissal after Emil Bove's confirmation hearing
The important part of the New York City mayor's criminal corruption case is how it was dismissed, not the fact that it was dismissed.
Setting the record straight on the Eric Adams dismissal after Emil Bove's confirmation hearing
— Democracy Skies in Blueness - Resist (@democracyblue.bsky.social) 2025-06-26T13:33:07.924Z
The important part of the New York City mayor's criminal corruption case is how it was dismissed, not the fact that it was dismissed. www.msnbc.com/deadline-whi...
https://www.msnbc.com/deadline-white-house/deadline-legal-blog/emil-bove-confirmation-hearing-eric-adams-trump-rcna215074
Its an odd aspect to emphasize because it was never really in doubt that U.S. District Judge Dale Ho was going to grant the DOJs motion, led by Bove, whom President Donald Trump made a high-ranking DOJ official after Bove represented Trump in his criminal cases. Rather, the relevant aspect is how Ho dismissed the case: With prejudice, meaning permanently. Far from being a legal victory for the administration, it was a stunning defeat that left much institutional damage in its wake, as several prosecutors resigned rather than go along with the Bove-backed scheme.
So, the fact that Ho dismissed the case with prejudice is a crucial distinction. Indeed, its the whole ballgame. Recall that the failed scheme hinged on the administration being able to keep the charges hanging over Adams hence the apparent reason why Bove fought so hard not merely to dismiss the case but to do so without prejudice, so that the charges could be revived in the future if the administration were to become displeased with Adams political cooperation on immigration enforcement or anything else. Prosecutors who resigned said it amounted to a quid pro quo, which Bove and Adams denied.
With that context in mind, its clear that Bove hardly made a point at the hearing when he noted to Sen. Richard Blumenthal, D-Conn., that Ho had granted the dismissal, as if to imply that the judge agreed with Boves reasoning.
On the contrary, Blumenthal replied with the context of Hos rationale for dismissing the case with prejudice, where the judge wrote of the apparent quid pro quo bid: Everything here smacks of a bargain: dismissal of the Indictment in exchange for immigration policy concessions. The judge further wrote that the DOJs position was fundamentally incompatible with the basic promise of equal justice under law.
If hes ultimately confirmed to be a federal appeals court judge, Bove will be tasked with meting out equal justice under law, as Ho did in the Adams case despite Boves best efforts. Multiple ethical red flags raise serious questions of whether hed do so on the bench and whether he deserves to be in such a position. Republican control of the Senate means hell likely be confirmed either way.

Igel
(37,015 posts)those that actually pondered the issue and case law and history, not just piously ranting about some point or other--dismissal with prejudice is the norm, the usual way, to prevent the system from being gamed.
The more cynical among them--right, left, and center--all agreed that the reason it was requested to be without prejudice so it could be refiled was either (a) to be able to threaten and cajole, (b) good faith not wanting to interfere with a current policy the admin approved of, (c) knowing that the judge would grant it "with prejudice" but wanting to save face by asking for what was unattainable or, even (d) asking for it per instructions, knowing that it would embarrass and cast negative face on the higher ups.
I don't know motives, I left my mind-reader skills behind a few interstate moves ago, but the outcome was not a surprise.