The judge’s decision, which ends the case as Adams seeks reelection, also discredited the rationale of a top Justice Department official for pursuing the dismissal.

The department wanted to drop the charges while retaining the right to refile them someday — an arrangement that could have given Trump powerful leverage over Adams.

A U.S. judge dismissed corruption charges against New York City Mayor Eric Adams on Wednesday, even as he said the Trump administration's argument that the case should be dropped because it was hindering the Democratic politician's help with an immigration crackdown "smacks of a bargain.

A judge permanently dismissed the federal corruption charges against New York City Mayor Eric Adams. NBC News’ Tom Winter explains the judge’s dismissal and what it means for Adams, who is running for another term as mayor.

New York City Mayor Eric Adams is running for reelection as an independent, he said in a video announcement on Thursday morning. The announcement came a day after a federal judge dismissed corruption charges against the mayor,

The dismissal ended an unprecedented case that had created a rift within the Justice Department.

The judge overseeing the corruption case against Eric Adams has dismissed the charges against the New York City mayor, and in a spilt with the Trump Justice Department, ordered that the charges cannot be brought again.

The judge denied prosecutors the ability to potentially bring the criminal case back after the mayoral election