By outdoor-nature-child.com On October 8, former city employee Mohamed Bahi was arrested and indicted for allegedly obstructing a federal investigation into Eric Adams’ campaign fundraising efforts. Bahi faces serious charges of witness tampering and destruction of records, each carrying a potential maximum sentence of 20 years in prison.
Bahi held the position of senior liaison in the Mayor’s Office of Community Affairs from 2022 until October 2024. According to an indictment filed by U.S. Attorney Damian Williams, FBI Assistant Director James E. Dennehy, and DOI Commissioner Jocelyn E. Strauber, Bahi participated in a fundraising event in December 2020 for “Official 1,” which refers to Adams, who was actively campaigning for the 2021 mayoral election. At this event, four employees of a construction company, acting under the direction and financial backing of their employer—referred to in the indictment as the “Businessman”—made donations to the candidate. This practice, known as “straw donor contributions,” allegedly violates federal law.
The indictment claims that during the federal probe into these donations, Bahi attempted to bribe multiple witnesses and destroy evidence to obstruct the investigation.
On June 13 of this year, FBI agents executed a search warrant at the Businessman’s residence and issued subpoenas to him and the four donors involved. After conversing with Adams, Bahi reportedly relayed instructions to the Businessman, advising him to lie to investigators. He then conveyed similar guidance to the four donors. Following a meeting with Adams on June 14, Bahi told the Businessman that Adams trusted him and believed that he would not cooperate with law enforcement.
On July 24, FBI agents searched Bahi’s home and seized his phone. Just before their arrival, Bahi, having received a tip, deleted the encrypted messaging app Signal from his device. The indictment alleges that Bahi had been using Signal for communications with Adams, and his actions were aimed at destroying evidence and impeding the investigation.
Williams stressed that interfering with a federal investigation is a serious crime and emphasized that this case serves as a reminder of the law’s importance.