Mayor Under Fire
New York City Mayor Eric Adams is under fire but may soon be out from under federal prosecution, as the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) has asked for the corruption charges pending against him to be dropped. The DOJ stated the charges—which allege Adams accepted more than $100,000 in contributions and travel in exchange for influence—wrongly impeded Adams’ ability to govern and run for reelection. Several prosecutors resigned in protest of the decision, and NY Gov. Kathy Hochul is reportedly weighing whether to remove Adams from his mayoral post. The judge in the case will soon decide whether to grant the request for charges to be dropped.
Analysis and eternal perspective: Any time an elected official faces prosecution, there is great temptation to develop an opinion on the merits of the case based on your personal view of that official, or even your view of that official’s allies or adversaries. This story is riddled with those layers from all points on the political spectrum, as nearly every story about this case includes commentary about the Trump DOJ, Gov. Hochul, and the possible political motives of all involved.
To be clear, political motives certainly often play a role in decision-making, and it is prudent to be aware of the context in which things happen. However, for the rule of law and the equal application of justice to prevail, it is imperative that facts and evidence drive prosecutorial decisions. You and I can model this truth in our interactions with these stories by faithfully applying Proverbs 18:17: “In a lawsuit the first to speak seems right, until someone comes forward and cross-examines.”
None of us are innocent (Rom 3:23). But Americans, as a self-governing free people, have a sacred responsibility to lay aside partisan perspectives in favor of the equal application of the law. The alternative is equal justice for none.
The following article originally appeared in Thann’s “The Equipped” Weekly Newsletter. For more information on Thann’s weekly email, click here.