NEW YORK — Hagan Scotten, the lead prosecutor in Mayor Eric Adams’s federal corruption case, has quit over the Justice Department’s demand that the case be dismissed, calling any lawyer who would move in court to toss the matter a “fool” or “coward,” according to a copy of a letter obtained Friday.

Prosecutors contend the case was marred by appearances of impropriety and that letting it continue would interfere with the mayor’s reelection bid.

Danielle Sassoon, the acting U.S. attorney for the Southern District of New York, submitted her resignation Thursday, according to letters obtained by ABC News.