Adams said he will run as an independent, giving himself more time to mend his reputation after politically ruinous controversies.

A federal judge dismissed the charges at the request of the Justice Department, which had argued that the case distracted from Adams' ability to enact Trump's immigration agenda.

A U.S. judge dismissed corruption charges against New York City Mayor Eric Adams on Wednesday, even as he said the Trump administration's argument that the case should be dropped because it was hindering the Democratic politician's help with an immigration crackdown "smacks of a bargain.