Danielle Sassoon was the Manhattan U.S. acting attorney who handled federal cases for the Southern District of New York. She handled serious crimes like corruption, fraud, and organized crime. She recently resigned after she was asked to drop a corruption case against New York City Mayor Eric Adams.
Why Was Eric Adams Under Investigation?
New York City Mayor Eric Adams was indicted on charges of public corruption. The Justice Department charged him with employing his political office for his personal and financial gain. Adams pleaded not guilty, and his case was scheduled to be heard in the spring of 2025. It was a landmark case because no sitting New York City mayor had ever been indicted on corruption charges in recent memory.
Why Did Sassoon Resign?
Sassoon quit because she was opposed to the dismissal of the case against Adams. In her resignation letter, she claimed that Adams’ lawyers pushed prosecutors to drop the case in exchange for supporting former President Donald Trump’s immigration agenda. She charged that the process was rushed and did not get appropriate legal scrutiny.
Sassoon was worried that the case had been politicized, stating that the ruling appeared to have been orchestrated between Adams’ attorneys and government officials. She alleged that not hearing the case and dismissing it without her input undermined the justice system.
Sassoon’s Background and Legal Career
Danielle Sassoon has a solid background in criminal justice and law. She graduated from Harvard College and went on to earn a law degree from Yale Law School. She served as a clerk for Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia before becoming a federal prosecutor.
Sassoon became an assistant U.S. attorney for the Southern District of New York in 2016. She worked on violent crime cases, financial fraud cases, and organized crime cases. Her experience in high-profile criminal cases prompted her to become acting U.S. attorney in January 2025.
High-Profile Cases Worked by Sassoon
Sassoon has worked on various big cases throughout her career, which include:
Lawrence Ray Case (2022):
Sassoon tried Lawrence Ray, a man who exploited and manipulated students at Sarah Lawrence College. He was convicted of sex trafficking, forced labor, and money laundering. He was sentenced to 60 years in prison.
Sam Bankman-Fried Case (2023):
Sassoon presided over the questioning by the government of Sam Bankman-Fried, the owner of the collapsed cryptocurrency exchange FTX. He was convicted of fraud and sentenced to prison for 25 years.
Response to Her Resignation
Sassoon’s resignation is controversial. Certain lawmakers and legal commentators are scrutinizing the eleventh-hour move by the Justice Department to dismiss the case against Adams. Others argue that the decision could have involved political pressure, while a few others assume that prosecutors were not able to present enough evidence to go forward.
The case has also raised issues of government transparency. The majority of individuals believe that the public should be told why the case was dropped and whether political deals were made.
What Happens Next?
After Sassoon’s resignation, other prosecutors also resigned, adding to the controversy. The action of the Justice Department has created public debate about political interference in the legal process. Most are eagerly waiting to see whether any new investigations would be launched or the Adams case reopened in the future.
The case has also put pressure on the Justice Department to explain its action. Whether or not the case marks a shift in the way political corruption is being handled will be resolved.
