Alert readers will recall that back in February, there was considerable disagreement aired here on the VC about whether or not the DOJ's decision to drop (at least temporarily) the criminal charges against NYC Mayor Eric Adams involved a "quid pro quo," something like:
"Use your mayoral powers to give federal immigration agents greater access to NYC facilities (such as Rikers Island and other prisons) (quid) and we won't prosecute you for bribery and corruption (quo)."
It seemed abundantly clear to me - bordering on the obvious - that there was such a quid pro quo,[1] whether or not it had been expressed out loud or merely, as Justice Kennedy put it once, with "knowing winks and nods."[2] As District Judge Ho put it, in his opinion dismissing the indictment[3]:
