Danielle Sassoon, the acting U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York (SDNY), recently resigned, prompting a major change within a highly notable legal office. Sassoon was instrumental in prosecuting Sam Bankman-Fried, the former CEO of FTX, and was leading cases against various key individuals in the cryptocurrency sector.
Sasson Resigns Following Trump-Appointed Official’s Intervention
According to a report from The New York Times dated February 13, Sassoon’s resignation came after Emil Bove, a U.S. Justice Department official appointed by Trump, instructed her to stop a corruption case targeting New York City Mayor Eric Adams.
The case was initiated by the U.S. Attorney’s office in September 2024, which alleged that Adams received unlawful donations from Turkish officials.
Following this indictment, Donald Trump publicly supported Adams, suggesting that he was unjustly targeted due to his opposition to Biden’s immigration policies. Adams, who has visited Mar-a-Lago before Trump’s swearing-in, maintains his innocence of the allegations.
“Sidenote: My friend Rebecca @rroiphe cited in Danielle Sassoon’s resignation letter from @SDNYnews about the issues surrounding political appointees regulating DOJ’s politicization.” — Melissa Russo (@MelissaRusso4NY) February 13, 2025
Bove, known for his previous role as a criminal defense attorney for Trump, ordered Sassoon to suspend the investigation until a permanent U.S. Attorney for SDNY was confirmed by the Senate.
Currently, it is unknown who will serve as Sassoon’s brief replacement. The Southern District of New York is regarded as a prominent prosecutorial office, dealing with cases involving white-collar crimes, political corruption, and crypto-related offenses.
Sassoon’s departure raises concerns over the direction of significant financial and cryptocurrency prosecutions going forward, as well as the legal challenges faced by prominent figures in the digital asset realm.
Post Sam Bankman-Fried: Connections Between Mayor Adams and Cryptocurrency
Since taking office in 2022, Mayor Eric Adams has gained notable attention within the crypto community, having proposed receiving his first three salaries in Bitcoin as part of his initiative to promote New York City as a crypto hub. Adams has also advocated for pro-crypto measures, such as urging the governor to eliminate a moratorium on proof-of-work mining.
The accusation against Adams indicates he benefited from travel perks and other advantages from Turkish government-affiliated individuals in exchange for political favors, including hastening the approval process for a new Turkish consulate in New York City without the required fire safety certifications.
Former CFTC commissioner Brian Quintenz has been mentioned as a potential nominee by Trump to lead the agency, where he has significantly influenced crypto regulations since his departure from the CFTC.
