Summary

The Justice Department’s decision to dismiss bribery charges against NYC Mayor Eric Adams has led to a wave of resignations, tripling those of the 1973 “Saturday Night Massacre.”

Six senior officials, including Manhattan U.S. Attorney Danielle Sassoon, stepped down in protest, citing concerns over political interference.

Deputy Attorney General Emil Bove ordered the dismissal, arguing the case was “weaponization” of the justice system.

Legal experts see parallels to past executive overreach, raising alarm over the independence of the Southern District of New York.

  • sarcasticsunrise@lemmy.world
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    2 months ago

    These people need to understand this quickly, like yesterday: This whole “protesting by stepping down” thing, doesn’t help a damn thing. These mass resignations only embolden the shitheads to continue breaking the law with no fear of reprisal

    • DrFistington@lemmy.world
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      2 months ago

      Yeah I have to say, this is probably what they want, then they can replace people who pose a real threat with loyalists. If anything, pretend to be on board while sabotaging them at every opportunity

  • perestroika@lemm.ee
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    2 months ago

    Came here to post the Reuters article “US prosecutors formally ask judge to drop case against NY mayor Eric Adams”, but saw that it’s already posted.

    I’ll just quote a part from the other article and add some comments about it:

    “The pending prosecution has unduly restricted Mayor Adams’ ability to devote full attention and resources to … illegal immigration and violent crime,” Bove, Trump’s former personal lawyer and a political appointee, wrote in the memo seen by Reuters.

    Essentially, they are sending a letter to a court of law saying “we’re playing politics, don’t distract us with your laws”. I think that should be named “political corruption” and “obstruction of justice”.

    Fortunately not everyone was spineless:

    “I am confident that Adams has committed the crimes with which he is charged,” Sassoon wrote on Wednesday in a letter to Attorney General Pam Bondi seen by Reuters. “I cannot agree to seek a dismissal driven by improper considerations.”

    My viewpoint:

    • resignation is not the best way to deal with a fascist takeover, resistance would be better (and every political firing of a resisting prosecutor should come with a court case attached)
    • letting politicians directly influence prosecutors (to stop cases before they go to court) presents massive opportunities for political corruption
    • fortunately this case has already gone to court, so next they will be putting pressure on the judge, who is better protected against influence
    • if corruption trials should become unfeasible, or feasible only for unimportant or opposition-minded persons, there’s not much point in having a legal system
  • Pulsar@lemmy.world
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    2 months ago

    America has lost their moral compass. Sorry to say, but USA might never be the same. I invited everyone to read a little about how societies and empires have collapsed. Spoiler alert, starts gradually and then move fairly fast.

    • CharlesDarwin@lemmy.world
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      2 months ago

      Republicans. Republicans have lost their moral compass (if they ever really have one, and that’s debatable).

      Remember: most of the nation did not vote for these fuckers.

      • Duamerthrax@lemmy.world
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        2 months ago

        Were you around when Obama promised to close Gitmo? He never did and the public never pressed him on that.

  • HighFructoseLowStand@lemm.ee
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    2 months ago

    With all the screeching Republicans do about Democratic corruption, you think Trump would treat prosecuting Adams like a slam dunk.

    It really is like Trump is embracing corruption as a matter of policy.

    • TwitchingCheese@lemmy.world
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      2 months ago

      Yes but then they’ll just put another Democrat in his place. This way he has one he can force into doing his bidding holding charges above his head.

  • eran_morad@lemmy.world
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    2 months ago

    Yes, but today’s republicans-at-large are mindless automatons, devoid of any mental processing; and those in government are traitors, unworthy of the oxygen they draw.

    So, nothing will happen, except by extraordinary means. The American system is a cunt hair’s breadth from failure.