Overview
- U.S. District Judge Nicholas Garaufis ordered the Justice Department to file a fuller written justification by July 13, 2026 after finding the department's initial explanation thin.
- The judge directed Gautam Adani to submit a sworn affidavit by July 15, 2026 answering whether he knows of any promise, offer, agreement or benefit tied to the dismissal of the indictment.
- Principal Associate Deputy Attorney General R. Trent McCotter told the court he alone decided to seek dismissal and called the securities claims legally “indefensible” because much of the alleged conduct occurred in India, key evidence and witnesses are abroad, and investor losses were limited.
- Reporting and court notes say Adani’s lawyers mentioned a possible $10 billion U.S. investment in meetings with DOJ lawyers, a claim the judge said raises the specter of a quid pro quo even though McCotter denied any investment influenced his decision.
- Two career prosecutors withdrew after the dismissal motion and the judge’s order leaves the case open while raising questions about how far courts can probe high-profile prosecutorial decisions and what that could mean for future FCPA enforcement and investor confidence.