A federal judge has dismissed a lawsuit filed by the former interim New York Police Commissioner against former Mayor Eric Adams and his top deputies.
New York — A federal judge rejected A A lawsuit filed by the former interim police commissioner of New York City Who accused former Mayor Eric Adams and his top deputies of running the New York Police Department as a “criminal enterprise.”
The racketeering suit was originally filed in July by Thomas Donlon, a longtime FBI official who was appointed by Adams to stabilize the United States. The scandal-ridden police department.
Instead, Donlon said, he faced “systemic corruption and criminal behavior” enabled by Adams and his allies, who routinely inflated overtime, blocked internal investigations and punished whistleblowers.
In a ruling issued Wednesday, Judge Dennis Cote said the alleged misconduct did not meet the definition of racketeering activity because the lawsuit did not describe defendants acting for a “common purpose.”
A spokesperson for the city’s legal department said they were “pleased that the court agreed that there is no legal basis for this case to continue.” An inquiry from Adams’ spokesman was not answered.
John Scola, Donlon’s attorney, said his client has already appealed the decision.
“Mr. Donlon faced corruption within the highest ranks of the NYPD and was forced to resign for refusing to engage in illegal conduct,” Scola said. “We are confident that the Second Circuit will allow his claims to proceed.”
Donlon was appointed by Adams after the resignation of the former police commissioner, Edward Caban, whose phone was seized by federal officials as part of a security operation. The sprawling investigation In management.
He served as interim commissioner for about two months, and was later replaced by Jessica Tisch, who continues to lead the department.
Donlon’s lawsuit was one of many filed by veteran police officials that described a culture of rampant corruption and nepotism within the department under Adams.
In recent weeks, so have federal prosecutors Filed multiple bribery cases against former police officials Who served under Adams.