In a stunning move, the Justice Department has directed federal prosecutors in Manhattan to drop corruption charges against New York City Mayor Eric Adams, arguing that his indictment last fall came too close to the 2025 mayoral primary and hindered his ability to assist in President Trump’s immigration crackdown. “You are directed to dismiss” the charges, wrote Emil Bove, the Justice Department’s acting second-in-command, in a letter to prosecutors, according to two people briefed on its contents. The intervention by a Trump-appointed official in a high-profile corruption case raises serious concerns about prosecutorial independence and the administration of justice during Trump’s second term. The decision could significantly impact the future of the case against Adams, leaving uncertainty about whether the charges will ultimately be pursued. It remains unclear how Danielle R. Sassoon, the interim U.S. attorney in Manhattan, will respond to the directive. A spokesperson for her office declined to comment. Any effort to formally dismiss the charges must go through the courts, where a judge will review the motion. In a memo to prosecutors, Bove accused the former U.S. attorney in Manhattan, who led the investigation, of pursuing the case for political advantage, according to sources familiar with the matter. The Justice Department’s move has already sparked debate over whether political considerations influenced the decision to abandon the prosecution.