Alina Habba is the legal adviser to President Donald Trump. She has stated that New York City mayor Eric Adams “was prosecuted because he opposed sanctuary city policies.” Alina Habba, President Donald Trump’s legal counsel, has stated that New York City Mayor Eric Adams was “prosecuted because he was anti-sanctuary city policies.”
It is important to understand the core issue
The U.S. Department of Justice has dropped the bribery charge filed against Eric Adams back in September of 2024. DOJ stated that it was concerned that this case “unduly restricted” Mayor Adams’ ability to deal with critical issues such as illegal immigration and violent crimes.
The DOJ stated that the reason for this dismissal did not depend on the quality of evidence.
Some critics have expressed concern that Adams dropping his charges is a political move. Adams, Tom Homan, Trump’s border czar, and the DOJ have all denied these allegations. Danielle Sassoon and other DOJ employees reportedly quit in protest against the DOJ’s decision.
Alina Habba has emerged as a leading figure on Trump’s team, a strong critic of New York state’s judicial systems, for her work in both the E. Jean Carroll case and civil fraud against Trump Organization.
James Devaney/GC Images/John Lamparski/Getty Images
Important Points To Note
The a Fox & Friends Kayleigh McCenany, the former White House press secretary, said in her interview Monday that Amy Klobuchar had described Adams as “a political pawn” for Trump.
Habba said, “The only pawns who exist in New York State are the DAs & AGs. They are literally attempting to interfere in what President Obama has ordered.”
Letitia James from New York, the attorney general who presided over Trump’s fraud civil trial, contested multiple orders of Trump’s administration.
Habba claimed that Adams had been prosecuted for his anti-sanctuary policies. He wanted New York to be safe…And then all of a sudden, wow, he’s prosecuted under charges and gone after.”
She added, “Now he comes in, and he says, ‘I’m going to cooperate and do exactly what I’ve been saying I wanted to do for months before they prosecuted me and persecuted me…and I’m gonna help clean up the city of New York,’ which is a disaster as we know.”
Alina Habba on Eric Adams: “Let’s not forget something — this man was prosecuted because he was anti-sanctuary city policies.” It is not true. pic.twitter.com/QuEbJ2WjbO
— Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) February 17, 2025
Eric Adams Case Background
Eric Adams was indicted last September for charges such as bribery and fraud. He also faced allegations of illegal solicitation campaign contributions. These were all related to the Brooklyn Borough President role that he took on in 2014.
Allegations included the acceptance of over $100,000 worth of travel gifts, campaign contributions and other donations from Turkish officials and foreign businessmen. It was also alleged that he had pressed the New York City Fire Department into approving the opening of the New York consulate without an inspection. Adams has always denied the accusations.
Eric Adams on Immigration
Adams and Tom Homan have recently appeared on Fox & FriendsThey also emphasized their joint efforts in immigration enforcement. Adams reiterated that he is committed to targeting dangerous people in New York. He has been doing this since 2022.
Adams has announced that U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents will have access to Rikers Island to help with criminal investigations. This is especially true for those involving violent criminals and gangs.
CNN interviewed me on State of the UnionHoman mentioned that he had met Adams weeks earlier to discuss the possibility of ICE agents being stationed at Rikers and collaborating to enhance public safety.
Reactions & Statements
**Aaron Rupar, Independent Journalist:** “Alina Habba on Eric Adams: ‘Let’s not forget something — this man was prosecuted because he was anti-sanctuary city policies.’ This is a falsehood.
**Eric Adams, New York City Mayor:** “I never offered—nor did anyone offer on my behalf—any trade of my authority as your mayor for an end to my case. Never…I am solely beholden to the 8.3 million New Yorkers that I represent and I will always put this city first.”
**Danielle Sassoon, Former Acting U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York:** In her resignation letter, she indicated that Adams’ attorneys presented “what amounted to a quid pro quo” at a meeting attended by federal prosecutors, DOJ lawyers, and the mayor’s legal team.
**Emil Bove, Acting Deputy Attorney General:** Bove noted that “the government is not offering to exchange dismissal of a criminal case for Adams’ assistance on immigration enforcement” during the meeting.
**Tom Homan, Border Czar:** Homan dismissed the idea of a quid pro quo, stating, “I really don’t think it had anything to do with whatever is going on at the Justice Department. We have never discussed that.
Future Developments
Reuters reported federal prosecutor Ed Sullivan had agreed to drop the charges against Eric Adams in order to save his co-workers from possible termination due to non-compliance to the DOJ’s orders.
Eric Adams, despite his legal troubles, is running for re-election. He declared his intention to compete for the Democratic Party nomination in the June primaries, despite the speculation that he may switch parties as a result of the DOJ ruling.