Eric Adams is taking a cue from Trump as he makes revenge accusations against the Biden admin, an expert says

A former federal prosecutor who led the last major ouster of a big city mayor over corruption allegations says embattled Big Apple CEO Eric Adams is pursuing an aggressive defense tactic he may have learned from former President Donald Trump.

“It looks like the Adams defense team is learning from the former president how best to go after the government,” said Mark Chutkow, a former federal prosecutor who led the public corruption trial of former Detroit Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick a decade ago . “In other words, your best defense is often an aggressive offense.”

Although Trump’s New York trial took place in a state court prosecuted by Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg’s office rather than the U.S. Justice Department, there was a strong perception that the charges were politically motivated. And critics expressed similar concerns about special counsel Jack Smith’s investigation.

Chutkow pointed to two defense motions that he said were filed “extremely quickly” – the mayor’s motion to dismiss bribery charges against him and a motion asking the court to investigate a series of Justice Department leaks. which the defense says damaged Adams’ life. The public’s reputation affects his right to a fair trial.

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“I think that the speed with which the defense filed a motion to dismiss, and this motion related to the leaks, shows not only that they are being very aggressive in their defense, but that they are also reflecting public opinion on the matter case,” just as one would in a political campaign,” he told Fox News Digital. “They look at who gets to define the narrative.”

Adams, a moderate Democrat, has accused the Justice Department of pursuing him and people close to him in retaliation for his criticism of the Biden-Harris administration over border security.

“Adams’ legal strategy, like Trump, is to deny and defend,” said Neama Rahmani, a former federal prosecutor who runs a private practice in Los Angeles. “This is helpful for a candidate in the middle of an election, but has more than just public relations and political benefits. By attacking the prosecution and going after them, it forces the government into a defensive position and delays the process.”

Former President Donald Trump appears in New York City on May 30 for his hush money trial in Manhattan Criminal Court. (Doug Mills/Pool via REUTERS)

In a battle of attrition, delays would benefit the defense, he said.

“Prosecutors have limited resources and rarely negotiate with defendants who have access to the best and brightest lawyers, as Trump and Adams do,” he said.

The argument that the US Justice Department punishes the administration’s political opponents has been made before – by Trump and his supporters. In addition to the cases against Trump, critics questioned the aggressive prosecution of people involved in the Jan. 6 Capitol riots.

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Congress even has a special House subcommittee on arming the federal government, which held a hearing in late September to investigate allegations that the FBI purged conservatives from its ranks.

U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York Damian Williams, whose office is prosecuting Adams, denied a political motive in connection with the case when announcing the indictment last week.

U.S. Attorney Damian Williams speaks to reporters at a press conference. His office secured an indictment against New York Mayor Eric Adams. (Reuters/Shannon Stapleton)

“We are not focused on the right or the left,” he said at a news conference last month. “We focus on right and wrong. This is our duty and we will fulfill it.”

But the government’s motive doesn’t matter when a crime has been committed, said Chutkow, the former federal prosecutor.

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“Either you committed the crime or you didn’t,” he told Fox News Digital. “It doesn’t matter why the government chose to prosecute you.”

But Adams’ advertising campaign could be designed to influence the jury. It might just take one sympathetic person on the panel to solve the case.

Former Detroit Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick (R) stands by his attorneys as he appears in Wayne County Circuit Court for sentencing on October 28, 2008 in Detroit, Michigan. Kilpatrick and dozens of his allies were caught up in the biggest big-city corruption scandal in recent memory. (Bill Pugliano/Getty Images)

“[Prosecutors] “They would have to somehow defend themselves against their own actions,” Chutkow said. “Most judges control that pretty tightly in the courtroom, but it’s harder to do that in the court of public opinion.” That’s what you’ve seen with the former president, where he or people who support him have made a lot of statements in given to the press.”

The judge in Trump’s case, Juan Merchan, struggled to control extrajudicial statements despite a gag order, he added.

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“It’s difficult when you’re dealing with an officer because they have First Amendment rights,” Chutkow said. “The judge will always have to balance the right to free speech against concerns about tainting the jury pool.”

If convicted of all charges, Adams could face up to 45 years in prison.