Federal Prosecutor Resigns in Protest Over DOJ's Dismissal of Corruption Case Against NYC Mayor
Hagan Scotten, an assistant U.S. attorney for the Southern District of New York, resigned in protest after refusing to comply with an order to dismiss the criminal corruption case against New York City Mayor Eric Adams. In a resignation letter addressed to Emil Bove, acting deputy attorney general, Scotten criticized the Department of Justice’s (DOJ) decision to drop the charges against Adams, calling the justifications for the dismissal “transparently pretextual” and ethically problematic.
The DOJ had sought to dismiss the case without prejudice, allowing for the possibility of reinstating charges in the future. Scotten argued that such a move would improperly leverage prosecutorial power to influence Adams’ cooperation with federal policies, particularly on immigration. He emphasized that no system of justice should permit the government to use the threat of future prosecution to pressure elected officials into supporting its policy objectives.
Scotten’s resignation followed that of acting U.S. Attorney Danielle Sassoon, who also refused to file the dismissal motion. Sassoon and Scotten were among seven federal prosecutors who resigned in protest over the DOJ’s handling of the case. The controversy has raised concerns about the politicization of the justice system, with critics accusing the DOJ of undermining its independence to serve political interests.
Scotten, a Harvard Law School graduate and former U.S. Army Special Forces officer, has a distinguished legal career, including clerkships with Supreme Court Chief Justice John Roberts and Justice Brett Kavanaugh. His resignation underscores the deep divisions within the DOJ over the Adams case and the broader implications for prosecutorial integrity.
Read the Resignation Letter From Hagan Scotten
Hagan Scotten, an assistant U.S. attorney, wrote to Emil Bove, acting deputy attorney general, refusing to drop the case against Mayor Eric Adams.
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