Reports have emerged that Danielle Sassoon, the acting federal prosecutor for the southern district of New York in Manhattan, abruptly resigned on Thursday, February 13. The reason for her resignation may be linked to the Department of Justice’s withdrawal of corruption charges against New York City Mayor Adams.
According to a compilation of reports from the Associated Press and various other media outlets, Acting Prosecutor Sassoon stepped down from her position on Thursday. Three days prior, the Department of Justice instructed New York prosecutors to drop the charges against Mayor Adams, prohibiting further investigation by the southern district prosecutors before the November mayoral election.
However, as of Wednesday, Sassoon had not filed the dismissal paperwork; on Wednesday, the new Attorney General, Pam Bondi, expressed surprise that Sassoon had not yet acted in accordance with the Department of Justice’s memorandum.
Adams had been accused of illegally accepting campaign funds and bribes during the 2021 mayoral election. Adams implied that the charges against him were retaliation for his dissatisfaction with the Biden administration’s border policies, which led to an influx of illegal immigrants into New York City.
In response, Sassoon countered that the investigation into Adams began a year before the immigration crisis, stating that there was solid evidence supporting the charges.
Multiple media outlets have confirmed Sassoon’s resignation. Sassoon, who had taken office just last month, is a registered Republican and considered a conservative figure. She gained prominence for successfully prosecuting the fraud case of cryptocurrency wunderkind Sam Bankman Fried.
The southern district of New York, known for its independence from the political winds of Washington, D.C., is entrenched in its reputation as a “sovereign district.”