The federal judge overseeing the corruption case against New York City Mayor Eric Adams

held a hearing today about the Trump Justice Department's sudden decision to drop the case.

That reversal prompted seven federal prosecutors to resign in protest last week

and has further plunged the mayor's administration into turmoil.

Our William Brangham was in the

courtroom today and joins us now. So William, what was the judge trying to determine today?

Jeff, it was this incredibly striking scene for a federal courthouse. On one side of the room,

you had the prosecutors, in this case, the U.S. Department of Justice. And on the other side,

the defendant's table was the mayor of New York City. And in this case, the U.S. Department of Justice. And on the other side, the defendant's table was the mayor of New York City. And in this case, they both wanted the exact same thing, which is for this

very serious corruption case against the mayor to simply go away. And the judge, in this case,

Judge Dale Ho wanted to know why. And so he peppered a series of questions to the Deputy Attorney General, Emil Bovi, about

why he drops the case.

And Bovi made the argument that he's made in the past, that this was not about the merits

of the case.

Instead, he argued that this case was brought for political reasons, because Adams once criticized President Biden, and that this case was brought for political reasons because Adams once criticized President

Biden and that this case impinged on Adam's ability to do his job, specifically to enforce immigration

laws. And it was that argument that set off this revolt that you mentioned and all these

resignations.

In fact, one of those resigned prosecutors alleged that there was a quid pro quo here

that Adams had been told, we'll drop this case if you get on board with Trump's immigration

crackdown.

So that's what happened today.

...