A former senior aide to New York City Mayor Eric Adams has been arrested and charged with witness tampering and destruction of evidence, marking a significant escalation in the federal corruption investigation surrounding the mayor’s office. Mohamed Bahi, who resigned from his position on Monday, was taken into custody on Tuesday and now faces serious charges related to an alleged cover-up of illegal campaign donations to Adams’ 2021 mayoral bid.
Bahi has been charged with one count each of witness tampering and destruction of records. Both charges carry a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison, meaning Bahi could face decades behind bars if convicted. According to the Justice Department, Bahi played a pivotal role in obstructing the investigation by advising witnesses to lie to federal authorities and destroying key evidence.
The charges stem from an illegal fundraising scheme in which a businessman funneled contributions to Adams’ campaign through straw donors—individuals who made donations on behalf of others to circumvent legal contribution limits. When federal investigators began probing the donations, Bahi allegedly instructed those involved to withhold the truth.
Bahi’s arrest is tied to a fundraiser event he helped organize for Adams’ mayoral campaign. The businessman at the center of the scheme, identified as Uzbek-American construction contractor Tolib Mansurov, allegedly contributed $10,000 to the campaign. While the legal limit was $2,000 per individual, Mansurov is accused of making up the difference by using four employees as straw donors, a clear violation of federal campaign finance law.
When the FBI raided Mansurov’s residence in June, Bahi reportedly met with him and the employees and told them to lie to investigators and resist cooperation with authorities. Further, during a July raid of Bahi’s home, he allegedly deleted the encrypted messaging app Signal from his phone just before federal agents could seize it.
In response to the charges, U.S. Attorney Damian Williams stated, “Mohamed Bahi obstructed a federal criminal investigation by instructing witnesses to lie and then destroying evidence. 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 government employee.” Williams further emphasized that the Department of Justice remains committed to uncovering the truth, regardless of the individuals involved.
Similarly, FBI Assistant Director James Dennehy condemned Bahi’s actions, noting that “These alleged actions were a deceitful attempt to conceal unlawful activity and create unnecessary obstacles for those working to uncover the truth. The FBI will continue to apprehend all individuals, regardless of their position, for obstruction of federal investigations.”
Before joining Mayor Adams’ administration, Bahi had founded a charity group called Muslims Giving Back, which provided aid to the community. However, the group also gained attention for suing the NYPD over its surveillance practices of Islamic mosques and community centers following the 9/11 attacks.
Bahi, who had been serving as the mayor’s senior liaison to the Muslim community, made his first court appearance on Tuesday. During the arraignment, a federal magistrate judge ordered him to surrender his passport and refrain from any contact with witnesses or alleged co-conspirators. Bahi was released after posting a $250,000 bond.
Bahi’s arrest marks the first instance of an individual beyond Mayor Adams himself being charged in connection with the federal investigation into corruption and illegal campaign contributions within the mayor’s office. Adams was indicted earlier this month on federal corruption and bribery charges, and several senior officials in his administration have since resigned or been terminated as the scandal unfolds.
The investigation is focused on allegations that Adams and his associates provided favors to foreign nationals in exchange for illicit campaign donations. According to Assistant U.S. Attorney Hagan Scotten, federal authorities are conducting “several related investigations” that could result in additional charges for Adams and other individuals connected to the scandal.
This widening probe poses a serious threat to Adams’ political career and raises broader questions about corruption within his administration. While the full extent of the alleged criminal activity is still unfolding, it is clear that the federal investigation will continue to uncover more individuals involved in the illegal fundraising and potential abuses of power.
As the legal battles intensify, all eyes will remain on the federal investigation into Adams and his former aides. Bahi’s arrest may only be the beginning of a larger web of corruption within the mayor’s office. With more charges likely to emerge, the future of Adams’ administration and his political allies looks increasingly uncertain.
The ongoing investigation underscores the significant risks for public officials involved in campaign finance violations and the potential fallout from such high-profile corruption cases.
