A one-time senior aide to Mayor Eric Adams, who was charged with organizing an illegal straw donor scheme for the mayor, has agreed to plead guilty to conspiracy, the Manhattan U.S. Attorney's Office revealed Friday. If he cooperates with prosecutors, the former liaison to the Muslim community for City Hall could be a key witness against the mayor.
Mohamed Bahi, formerly one of the mayor's liaisons to the Muslim community, was initially charged in October with witness tampering and obstruction of justice. The criminal complaint alleged he had direct conversations with Adams about the campaign donation scheme. According to the feds, Bahi spoke with the mayor just hours after the FBI showed up last June to question the straw donors.
The complaint states he told one of the donors he had met with the mayor and the mayor "believed" the donor would not cooperate with the FBI. The indication of Bahi's intended plea suggests Acting Manhattan U.S. Attorney Danielle Sassoon is relentlessly pursuing the case against Adams.
The New York Times reported last week on discussions between Justice Department officials and Sassoon's office, along with Adams' attorney Alex Spiro, about potentially dismissing the case against the mayor. The specifics of Bahi's cooperation with prosecutors remain unclear, and no date has been set for his court appearance to enter the plea.
Nevertheless, Sassoon filed a letter indicating Bahi “has indicated he intends to plead guilty” to one count of conspiracy to violate U.S. laws. If he agrees to assist prosecutors, he would join another former aide, Rana Abbasova, who is already cooperating.
The status of Ahsan Chughtai, another implicated aide identified as “Adams Employee 2” in the indictment, remains uncertain. Chughtai is said to have assisted Bahi with the straw donor scheme and was questioned by the FBI before resigning last October following Bahi's arrest. Although no criminal charges have been brought against Chughtai, he is mentioned as part of the broader investigation surrounding Adams.
Along with Bahi and Chughtai, the businessman who reimbursed the straw donors at Bahi’s behest, identified as Businessman #4, has also agreed to cooperate with law enforcement, potentially seeking leniency amid the investigation.
Legal experts suggest Bahi's testimony could prove pivotal due to his direct communications with Adams concerning illegal donations, believed to be sourced from entities such as the Turkish government. Adams is accused of knowingly soliciting these contributions to bolster his campaign financing.
According to the indictment against Adams, it was Bahi and Chughtai who approached Businessman #6—owner of a Brooklyn contracting firm—requesting $10,000 for Adams' 2021 campaign. At the fundraiser held on December 10, 2020, the contractor and four of his employees donated $2,000 each. Prosecutors claim the contractor, under Bahi's suggestion, illegally reimbursed his employees for these contributions.
Upon learning about the FBI's inquiry, the contractor alerted Bahi, who then warned him to maintain the facade of legitimacy. He allegedly told the contractor the FBI "would be unable to prove" the reimbursements occurred, claiming he had spoken to the mayor who believed the contractor wouldn't cooperate.
Prosecutors have also noted Bahi communicated with Adams via encrypted messaging. During the FBI's search warrant execution at his home, Bahi reportedly attempted to evade law enforcement and deleted the encrypted app from his devices.
Direct communications with the mayor are central to the prosecution's case against Adams, who has repeatedly stated he was unaware of any illegal donations originating overseas or elsewhere. Currently, Adams is slated for trial on April 21, just weeks before the June 24 primary elections.
Prosecutors have indicated they are continuing to identify more alleged co-conspirators and additional criminal conduct by Adams, with potential plans to add charges against him and additional co-defendants.
The gravity of these mounting allegations, alongside the cooperation of former aides like Bahi and Abbasova, casts uncertainty over Mayor Adams' political future. The investigation not only threatens his administration but could also lead to wider repercussions within the New York governance structure.
This investigation raises pressing questions about the limits of campaign financing rules and the accountability of public officials, particularly as the upcoming primary approaches. New Yorkers are left wondering how this will all play out as more details emerge.