The Justice Department's order to drop corruption charges against New York City Mayor Eric Adams will test whether a fiercely independent federal prosecutor's office can resist efforts by President Donald Trump's administration to rein it in.

The move also puts Adams on a short leash: He still could be hit with similar or additional charges if team Trump decides to send another memo to New York prosecutors. Expect more of the mayor’s feverish, embarrassing efforts to curry favor with President Trump by never publicly voicing any kind of criticism of the White House.

The mayor was charged with bribery, fraud and other counts. Legal experts questioned the Trump administration’s justification for the move, and one law enforcement official called the order “transparent corruption.