New York City Mayor Eric Adams is asking the judge to intervene over alleged federal leaking of grand jury information

The motion filed by Adams' lawyers calls for a trial to investigate the alleged leaks they say were made by federal agents and prosecutors involved in the high-profile prosecution of the first-term New York mayor.

“For nearly a year, the government has leaked grand jury materials and other sensitive information to the media to bolster its image, advance the investigation, and unfairly disadvantage Mayor Eric Adams,” the legal team’s motion states.

The latest indictment accuses Adams of accepting bribes, engaging in illegal fundraising efforts and defrauding the city of $10 million in campaign funds. His legal team alleges that leaks from federal agencies last year leaked damaging information to the media and damaged Adams' reputation before formal charges were filed.

As examples of these alleged leaks, the defense specifically cited New York Times articles and pointed out that the information shared could only come from federal sources. The motion asks the court to investigate these leaks and hold those responsible accountable.

In an earlier statement, Adams' attorney Alex Spiro argued that the bribery charges should be dismissed, claiming that the gifts Adams received were typical perks for politicians and not illegal bribes. Spiro also criticized the government's handling of the case, citing damaging media coverage fueled by leaked information.

Adams' legal team had repeatedly raised concerns about the leaks with federal authorities, but their requests for an internal investigation were reportedly ignored. Now they are asking District Judge Dale Ho to intervene and impose penalties for the alleged confidentiality breaches.