NYC Mayor Adams hopes under a new Manhattan U.S. Attorney, ‘justice moves to be proper’

Mayor Adams connected Tuesday said helium hopes that nether Jay Clayton, Manhattan’s apt adjacent U.S. attorney, “the strategy of justness moves to beryllium proper,”  a remark that comes arsenic the politician is facing transgression indictment by the bureau Clayton is expected to lead.

President-elect Donald Trump announced earlier this period he’s nominating Clayton, a firm lawyer who has nary acquisition arsenic a prosecutor, to go Manhattan’s adjacent U.S. attorney. The incumbent, Damian Williams, said Monday helium would permission earlier Trump takes office.

If Clayton is confirmed by the Republican-controlled U.S. Senate, legal experts person told the News helium volition apt reappraisal the cases initiated by Williams, including the corruption lawsuit against Adams. Asked Tuesday day for his thoughts connected Clayton’s nomination, Adams referenced his ain case.

“I don’t deliberation immoderate American should spell done what I’ve gone through, and I’m hoping that the strategy of justness moves to beryllium proper, and truthful I’ve ever stated I’ve done thing wrong,” helium told reporters astatine City Hall, during his play property conference.

“This is terrifying for an American to spell through, peculiarly 1 who committed his beingness to serving his city, and I’m hoping the adjacent authoritative that comes successful understands however important justness is successful this country, what it means to Americans.”

Clayton, who presently works astatine the firm Sullivan & Cromwell instrumentality firm and was Trump’s U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission president during his archetypal White House term, didn’t instrumentality a petition for comment. Adams said helium has ne'er met Clayton.

Williams filed an indictment against Adams in precocious September connected charges of bribery, fraud, conspiracy and soliciting amerciable run contributions from overseas nationals. His indictment alleges Adams solicited bribes and amerciable run currency from Turkish authorities operatives and others successful speech for granting them authoritative favors, similar helping resoluteness gathering information issues astatine Turkey’s Manhattan consulate.

Adams has pleaded not blameworthy to each charges.

The question of whether Clayton mightiness determination to quash Adams’ lawsuit is simply a substance of wide sepculation arsenic Trump has  claimed without citing grounds that the politician was indicted arsenic retribution for his disapproval of President Biden’s handling of the migrant crisis, portion besides expressing enactment for Adams.

During the statesmanlike campaign, Adams angered chap Democrats by declining to knock Trump, fueling speculation successful immoderate quarters that Adams was hopeful, if elected, Trump could assistance him with his ineligible conundrum. Adams, asked respective times astir that during the run-up tpo the campiagn, said helium supported chap Democrat Vice President Harris successful the race.

As U.S, attorney, experts said, Clayton could determination to driblet Adams’ prosecution. However, specified a determination would apt necessitate support from Manhattan Federal Court Judge Dale Ho, who is overseeing Adams’ case.