Adams faces allegations he sought to help implement Trump's immigration policies in exchange for having his federal corruption charges dropped.

Now, it’s up to Dale E. Ho, a second-year federal judge in Manhattan, to decide if Adams' corruption case goes away. It’s the biggest challenge of Ho’s young judicial career, pitting the political pursuits of new Justice Department leadership in Washington against the objections of federal prosecutors in Manhattan who charged Adams last September and insist he be held accountable for allegedly taking bribes and illegal campaign contributions from foreign interests.

In a press briefing Thursday, New York Gov. Kathy Hochul announced she would not remove New York City Mayor Eric Adams from office.