On February 13, 2025, Danielle Sassoon, the Acting US Attorney for the Southern District of New York (SDNY), made headlines by resigning rather than complying with a Justice Department directive to drop the corruption case against New York City Mayor Eric Adams.
Her unexpected departure, along with those of several high-ranking Justice Department officials, has sparked a national debate about prosecutorial independence and political influence in the justice system.
Who is Danielle Sassoon?
Danielle Sassoon is a highly regarded federal prosecutor with an impressive legal background. She holds degrees from Harvard College and Yale Law School and previously clerked for Judge J. Harvie Wilkinson III and the late Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia.
Since joining SDNY in 2016, Sassoon has prosecuted major cases involving violent crime, securities fraud, and public corruption. Some of her most notable cases include:
Leading the prosecution of Sam Bankman-Fried, the founder of cryptocurrency exchange FTX, who was convicted of fraud in 2023.
Successfully prosecuting Lawrence Ray, a sex trafficker who manipulated college students, securing a 60-year prison sentence.
In January 2025, Sassoon was appointed interim US Attorney for SDNY, expected to serve until the Senate confirmed President Trump’s nominee, Jay Clayton.
The Eric Adams Corruption Case
The case that led to Sassoon’s resignation involves New York City Mayor Eric Adams, who was indicted in September 2024 on corruption charges. Prosecutors accused Adams of:
Accepting over $100,000 in illegal campaign contributions and luxury travel perks from Turkish officials.
Using his political influence to fast-track the opening of a Turkish consular building in Manhattan, despite safety concerns.
Engaging in obstruction of justice by allegedly destroying evidence and instructing associates to mislead the FBI.
Why Did Danielle Sassoon Resign?
On February 10, 2025, Acting Deputy Attorney General Emil Bove, a former personal lawyer for President Trump, ordered Sassoon to drop the charges against Adams. In his memo, Bove cited political considerations, arguing that prosecuting Adams could hinder Trump’s reelection campaign and immigration policies.
Sassoon refused, calling the directive a “dangerous precedent” that rewarded Adams for shifting political alliances. In her resignation letter to Attorney General Pam Bondi, she alleged that Adams’ legal team proposed a quid pro quo—offering political support in exchange for dropping the case.
The Fallout: Justice Department Shake-Up
Sassoon’s resignation triggered a wave of departures within the Justice Department:
- Kevin Driscoll, Acting Head of the Public Integrity Section
- John Keller, Deputy Head of the Section
- Three other senior prosecutors
Legal experts widely view these resignations as a protest against the politicization of the Justice Department.
