Mayor Adams declares victory as DOJ drops case, pledges to rebuild trust

Mayor Eric Adams declared an end to the “unnecessary ordeal” surrounding him as the Department of Justice dismissed its case against him, closing a months-long investigation that he says unfairly targeted him, his family, and the city.

Speaking from City Hall, Adams stood firm in his innocence. “As I said from the outset, I never broke the law, and I never would. I would never put any personal benefit above my solemn responsibility as your mayor,” he stated.

He emphasized that no witnesses had publicly accused him and that none of the prosecutors’ threats of new charges or evidence materialized. “This case will no longer continue,” he said, quoting Psalms 34:1: “I will bless the Lord at all times. His praise shall continually be in my mouth.” Adams thanked the Justice Department for “its honesty” and said it was time to “move forward.”

Despite the legal victory, he acknowledged that many New Yorkers still have doubts about his character. “I know that I must continue to regain your trust,” he admitted. “This experience has been humbling.” However, he insisted that the administration never lost focus, pointing to what he called major achievements under his leadership, including record crime reductions, a surge in affordable housing, and the highest number of jobs in city history. “Double-digit drops in shootings, homicides, and subway crimes,” he said. “The most new housing built in a three-year period ever, and the most jobs ever.”

He also highlighted efforts to address the migrant crisis, move thousands off city care, and put billions back into the pockets of working-class New Yorkers. “Hidden beneath all the shocking headlines full of rumors and accusations, the real news is that the women and men of my administration have delivered for the working people of New York, just like I promised we would,” Adams said. “Those are the facts.”

Rebuilding trust, he said, would come from results, not rhetoric. “Continuing to improve those numbers even more, month after month, and dedicating myself to the values and fights that New Yorkers believe in, is how I will restore faith in those who have lost it in me.” He positioned himself as a mayor who understands the struggles of everyday New Yorkers, saying, “Who I am is not in the headlines, it is in my history. I grew up in a place where justice always seemed out of reach. My family was betrayed by a city that didn’t care enough about us. And that’s why I fought for you and will keep fighting for you—because I am you.”

Adams called the past 15 months “the most difficult” of his life but said he drew inspiration from the resilience of New Yorkers. He closed with a promise: “If you work hard enough, New York City should give you a chance to succeed. This is our great promise. This is my promise to you. Hard work, real results, and a city and a mayor you can be proud of.”