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Former aide to NYC Mayor Eric Adams charged with witness tampering, destroying evidence

Former aide to NYC Mayor Eric Adams charged with witness tampering, destroying evidence
I look forward to defending myself, New York City mayor Eric Adams, once *** rising star in the Democratic Party now faces *** five count federal indictment. The conduct alleged in the indictment, the foreign money, the corporate money, the bribery, the years of concealment is *** grave breach of the public's trust. Prosecutors say Adams sold his office in exchange for thousands of dollars in illegal donations from foreign nationals along with gifts, luxury travel and premium hotel rooms. Adams forcefully denied the allegations, the leaks, the commentary demonizing and I asked New Yorkers to wait to hear our defense before making any judgments. The indictment lays out *** decade long scheme by Adams stretching back to his time as Brooklyn borough president. Since then, prosecutors say Adams solicited donations from Turkish nationals in violation of campaign finance laws. The indictment lays out *** number of alleged instances like one where *** staffer is communicating around *** potential $100,000 donation writing. I think he wouldn't get involved in such games. They might cause *** big stink. Later on, the Adams staffer allegedly responded, I'll ask anyways, Adams knew that these wealthy individuals could not legally donate in *** US election. Prosecutors allege Adams tried to hide the donations by funneling them through straw donors. The money multiplied by thousands of dollars in taxpayer funded matching funds once he took office, prosecutors say Adams used his power to pressure agencies to take favorable action to benefit Turkish officials. In one instance, the mayor directed the fire department to facilitate the opening of the new Turkish consulate which had failed to pass safety inspections. This building was important to the Turkish official and it was important to Turkey. Turkish officials under pressure from an impending visit by the Turkish president allegedly asked Adams to intervene. The building opened without incident. Prosecutors allege Adams took multiple trips to India, France, China and Ghana making critical stops in Turkey at one point, texting his partner, you know, first stop is always Istanbul during the trips, Adam stayed in luxury accommodations for free or at *** steep discount. According to prosecutors, he asked to pay *** nominal fee for all of this in order to disguise what we allege were. In fact bribes. The indictment also lays out how Adams would keep with an email that suggested that he left at *** minimum. Well, over $10,000 in cash in the Adams schedulers desk drawer to send to Turkish Airlines. When he learned federal prosecutors were investigating. Adams allegedly tried to conceal the evidence, directing staffers to delete messages. Federal agents spent more than three hours inside Adams's residence. This Morning Adams was named in the indictment. But since news of the investigations and impending charges broke into the open, several officials have tendered their resignations leaving critical agencies without steady leaders from here. My attorneys will take care of the case so I can take care of the city.
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Former aide to NYC Mayor Eric Adams charged with witness tampering, destroying evidence
A former New York City official was charged Tuesday with witness tampering and destroying evidence in connection with a federal investigation that led to Mayor Eric Adams’ bribery indictment.Federal prosecutors allege that Mohamed Bahi, who resigned Monday as a community affairs liaison in Adams’ administration, told a businessman and campaign donors to lie to the FBI in June and deleted an encrypted messaging app from his cell phone in July as FBI agents were executing a search warrant at his home.Bahi had 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 other than Adams to be charged in the investigation.Information on a lawyer who could speak on Bahi’s behalf was not listed in an online court docket.In a statement, U.S. Attorney Damian Williams said: “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.”“Our commitment to uncovering the truth and following the facts wherever they may lead is unwavering,” Williams said.Adams, a Democrat, has vowed to stay in office after pleading not guilty Sept. 27 to charges that he accepted about $100,000 worth of free or deeply discounted international flights, hotel stays, meals and entertainment, and sought illegal campaign contributions from foreign interests.At a hearing last week, Assistant U.S. Attorney Hagan Scotten said prosecutors are pursuing “several related investigations” and that it is “likely” additional defendants will be charged and “possible” that more charges will be brought against Adams.

A former New York City official was charged Tuesday with witness tampering and destroying evidence in connection with a federal investigation that led to Mayor Eric Adams’ bribery indictment.

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

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Bahi had 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 other than Adams to be charged in the investigation.

Information on a lawyer who could speak on Bahi’s behalf was not listed in an online court docket.

In a statement, U.S. Attorney Damian Williams said: “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.”

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

Adams, a Democrat, has vowed to stay in office after pleading not guilty Sept. 27 to charges that he accepted about $100,000 worth of free or deeply discounted international flights, hotel stays, meals and entertainment, and sought illegal campaign contributions from foreign interests.

At a hearing last week, Assistant U.S. Attorney Hagan Scotten said prosecutors are pursuing “several related investigations” and that it is “likely” additional defendants will be charged and “possible” that more charges will be brought against Adams.