Former advisor to New York Mayor Eric Adams is accused of witness tampering and destroying evidence

NEW YORK (AP) — A former New York official was charged Tuesday with witness tampering and destruction of evidence in connection with a federal investigation that led to the bribery indictment of Mayor Eric Adams.

Federal prosecutors allege Mohamed Bahi, who resigned Monday as community affairs liaison in Adams’ administration, told a businessman and campaign donors to lie to the FBI in June and an encrypted messaging app in July, when FBI agents executed deleted a search warrant at his home from his cell phone.

Bahi used the app Signal to communicate with Adams, prosecutors said.

Bahi, 40, of Staten Island, was arrested Tuesday and is expected to appear in federal court in Manhattan. He is the first person, along with Adams, to be charged in the investigation.

Information about an attorney who could speak on Bahi’s behalf was not listed in an online court filing.

In a statement, U.S. Attorney Damian Williams said, “The indictments unsealed today should leave no doubt about the seriousness of any effort to interfere in a federal investigation, particularly when undertaken by a government employee.”

“Our commitment to uncovering the truth and following the facts wherever they lead is unwavering,” Williams said.

Adams, a Democrat, has vowed to stay in office after pleading not guilty Sept. 27 for arraignment that he accepted free or deeply discounted international flights, hotel stays, meals and entertainment valued at approximately $100,000 and solicited illegal campaign contributions from foreign interests.

At a hearing last week, Assistant U.S. Attorney Hagan Scotten said prosecutors would do so pursuing “several related investigations.” and that it was “likely” that additional defendants would be charged and that it was “possible” that additional charges would be filed against Adams.