Campaign advisor admitted to pursuing illicit funds for Adams' 2021 mayoral bid
In a significant development, Mohamed Bahi, a former aide to New York City Mayor Eric Adams, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit wire fraud on Tuesday. Bahi organized a fundraising event for Adams' 2021 mayoral campaign, where construction company employees were asked to donate, with the expectation of reimbursement.
Prosecutors accused Bahi of instructing donors to lie to federal investigators about the campaign event. This allegation was part of a broader corruption case involving Mayor Adams, which was initially pursued by a federal grand jury last year. The name of the prosecutor who originally investigated the case is Mark Lesko.
The U.S. attorney's office for the Southern District of New York accused Adams of exploiting the city's matching fund system during his 2021 campaign, trading political power for pricey flights, fancy hotel accommodations, and illegal campaign contributions. However, the outcome of Adams' case became uncertain due to pressure from the Justice Department for prosecutors in New York City to dismiss the charges.
The lead prosecutor overseeing the case, Danielle Sassoon, alleged that Adams' lawyers offered to help President Donald Trump's administration with immigration enforcement if his indictment were dismissed, an allegation Adams denied. Several prosecutors refused to follow the Justice Department's instructions and resigned in protest.
In a statement, Kayla Mamelak Altus, a spokesperson for the mayor, stated that Adams "has broken no laws and has always instructed his team to follow the law." U.S. District Judge Dale Ho dropped the mayor's case in April, arguing that he didn't have the authority to force the government to keep pursuing the charges.
Bahi could face up to five years in federal prison, but Ho signaled that he could spend far less than five years behind bars. After pleading guilty, Bahi ignored questions about whether he resented that the mayor's case was dropped while his continued. Bahi admitted in court that he knew this practice was wrong.
As part of his plea deal, Bahi has agreed to pay $32,000 in restitution. The outcome of Adams' case remains uncertain, with the city's mayor continuing to maintain his innocence. This story has been updated with additional information and a comment from the mayor's office.
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