Mohamed Bahi, a former senior liaison in the community affairs department of New York City Mayor Eric Adams' administration, has been charged with witness tampering and destroying evidence. This development comes amidst a broader federal investigation into illegal campaign contributions received by Adams during his 2021 mayoral campaign.
According to U.S. Attorney Damian Williams, Bahi allegedly instructed witnesses to lie to federal investigators and deleted potentially incriminating messages from his phone. This obstruction of justice is a serious offense, particularly when committed by a government employee.
The charges against Bahi are part of a larger probe into Adams' campaign finances. Federal authorities have been investigating whether Adams' campaign received foreign donations, which is illegal under U.S. election laws. Since the investigation began nearly a year ago, Adams has maintained his innocence and stated that he is cooperating fully.
Bahi's alleged actions include telling campaign donors to provide false statements to the FBI and deleting the encrypted messaging app Signal from his phone while agents were executing a search warrant at his residence. This behavior is seen as a clear attempt to obstruct the federal investigation.
Mohamed Bahi resigned from his position in Mayor Adams' administration on Monday, just before his arrest on Tuesday. He is expected to appear in federal court in Manhattan and faces serious charges related to witness tampering and evidence destruction.
The indictment of Bahi marks the first individual charged in the investigation aside from Mayor Adams himself. Adams has pleaded not guilty to several charges, including bribery and fraud, and has refused calls to step down as mayor.
U.S. Attorney Damian Williams emphasized the gravity of Bahi's actions, stating, 'The charges unsealed today should leave no doubt about the seriousness of any effort to interfere with a federal investigation, particularly when undertaken by a public servant.'
This case highlights the ongoing scrutiny of Mayor Adams' office and the measures being taken by federal authorities to uncover any wrongdoing related to campaign finance laws.
As the investigation continues, it remains unclear what specific elements the federal authorities are scrutinizing or what other individuals might be implicated in the probe.
The situation underscores the importance of transparency and accountability in public office, particularly during election cycles when campaign finance laws are paramount.
