The Justice Department's directive to drop the criminal prosecution of New York Mayor Eric Adams is one more example that relationships, allegiances and vendettas are in some cases determining who gets targeted − and who gets reprieved − in the age of Donald Trump.

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.