NEW YORK (AP) — New York City Mayor Eric Adams withdrew from a candidates’ forum on Wednesday that included many of his rivals in the Democratic primary. He cited legal advice urging him to avoid such public events until a judge rules on the dismissal of his public corruption case.

“Let’s allow the court to handle this process,” Adams told reporters while exiting an earlier engagement. He emphasized that there remains ample time for debates and public discussions as the mayoral campaign progresses. A significant number of candidates—at least six—are competing against Adams in the Democratic primary scheduled for June.

Adams also provided another reason for skipping the forum organized by District Council 37, the largest municipal union in the city.

He pointed out that at least one candidate was absent from the lineup, referring to someone who is “running in the shadows.” This seemed to allude to former Governor Andrew Cuomo, who is garnering endorsements even as he has yet to officially announce his candidacy.

“We need everyone to participate,” Adams stated. “No candidate should sit on the sidelines and issue vague insinuations.”

The mayor’s absence drew boos from union members when DC 37 Executive Director Henry Garrido revealed he would not attend. One candidate present humorously commented on Adams’ no-show while also taking a jab at Cuomo.

“Henry, on my lawyer’s advice, I’m honored to be at the DC 37 mayoral forum tonight,” said City Comptroller Brad Lander. “If you’re unwilling to stand in front of the very citizens who keep this city functioning and address their queries, then you shouldn’t be in the race for mayor.”

Neither Adams’ attorney, Alex Spiro, nor a campaign spokesperson responded to requests for comments regarding the mayor’s absence from the forum.

Earlier that day, Adams sought again to have the judge dismiss his criminal charges, alleging misconduct by prosecutors.

In September, he was charged with accepting over $100,000 in illegal campaign contributions and travel benefits from a Turkish official and others attempting to gain influence during his tenure as Brooklyn borough president.

Recently, senior officials at the U.S. Justice Department reversed their stance, instructing New York prosecutors to drop the case, arguing it was distracting Adams from supporting the Trump administration’s immigration initiatives and negatively impacting his re-election efforts.

AP correspondent Julie Walker reports that New York City’s Mayor has alleged prosecutorial misconduct and is seeking a judge’s dismissal of his criminal case.

A considerable number of prosecutors in both New York and Washington, D.C., resigned rather than comply with the directive.

In court documents submitted on Wednesday, Adams’ legal team accused the government of inappropriately leaking a letter from then-U.S. Attorney Danielle Sassoon to Attorney General Pam Bondi, which argued against dropping the charges and indicated that prosecutors intended to accuse the mayor of obstructing justice.

Adams’ lawyers stated that Sassoon’s “unhinged resignation letter” was part of a troubling series of leaks from within the Justice Department that surfaced after Deputy Attorney General Emil Bove ordered that the prosecution be halted. They contended that the public disclosure of the internal strife had compromised Adams’ right to a fair trial.

Adams has maintained his innocence and pleaded not guilty.

Requests for comments were made to the Justice Department in Washington. Bove and two Justice Department lawyers are currently working to persuade a Manhattan judge to dismiss the charges.

The judge, who has canceled an April trial, has sought external counsel for advice as he deliberates the next steps in the case.

Bove’s motion to dismiss the charges suggested that they could be reinstated post-mayoral election, but Adams’ legal representatives argued against that possibility.

“Mayor Adams was tried in the media long before any formal indictment. The Court must consider this undeniable reality. This case, once perceived as a joke, has now transformed into a serious issue, and its ongoing presence significantly harms him each day,” they stated.