Danielle Sassoon, the acting US Attorney for the Southern District of New York, resigned from her role. This departure follows a directive from a US Justice Department official, appointed by President Donald Trump, to halt a corruption case against New York City Mayor Eric Adams. Sassoon had been a key figure in prosecuting high-profile cases, including that of former FTX CEO Sam Bankman-Fried.

Sassoon's resignation was reported on February 13 by The New York Times (NYSE: NYT ) and comes amid controversy surrounding the case against Mayor Adams. The US Attorney's office had indicted Adams on corruption charges in September 2024, accusing him of accepting illegal donations from the Turkish government. Trump came to Adams' defense after the indictment, suggesting that the mayor was being targeted for his criticism of the Biden administration's immigration policies.

Emil Bove, the acting US deputy Attorney General and one of Trump's criminal defense attorneys, was the official who instructed Sassoon to pause the legal proceedings against Adams. The delay is set to last until the Senate confirms a new US Attorney for SDNY. Jay Clayton, a Wall Street insider and former Securities and Exchange Commission Chair, is Trump's nominee for the position.

The successor to Sassoon in an acting capacity has not been announced at the time of publication. The legal and political community awaits further developments as lawmakers prepare to consider Clayton's confirmation.

Mayor Adams, who took office in 2022, has been a notable figure in the cryptocurrency sector due to his stance during his campaign. He promised to accept his first three paychecks in Bitcoin and aimed to establish New York City as a hub for cryptocurrency.

His indictment has brought his crypto-friendly legacy under scrutiny, especially in light of the moratorium on proof-of-work mining operations that he influenced. The allegations against him involve receiving travel benefits in exchange for facilitating the opening of a new Turkish consulate in New York City without the necessary fire safety certification.