A former City Hall official Accused of revealing the name of Eric Adams A potential plea deal is being considered for encouraging a campaign donor to lie to the FBI — raising fears he could cooperate in the federal corruption case against the mayor.
Court papers filed this week say attorneys for Mohammed Bahi, 40, and prosecutors “have engaged and continue to be in discussions regarding the potential disposition of this case.”
Documents filed Wednesday in Manhattan federal court did not disclose terms of the potential deal, nor whether he would agree to testify against Adams.
But the existence of the negotiations prompted Judge Jennifer Willis to grant a request by prosecutors in the Southern District of New York to stop the trial clock for Bahi, allowing him to work out possible terms with his defense attorneys. Can get 30 days time for this.
A source close to Adams’ legal team claimed it was probably a desperate move to pit Bahi against the mayor so soon after Donald Trump’s election on Tuesday — with some in Hizzoner’s camp seeing his presidency as a Were. Potential boon for mayor’s legal prospects,
“Submitting new witness testimony as part of the prosecution against the mayor based on an agreement made after Trump’s re-election would be an incredibly poor approach at the last minute for the SDNY,” the source said.
Trump, who has repeatedly expressed his view that Adams has been unfairly prosecuted by the feds, could either stymie the case against Meyer by appointing a new U.S. attorney or even pardon him if found guilty. Can, some in the mayor’s circle believe.
Federal authorities face a tough challenge to get all their evidence before the sitting mayor’s landmark trial in April in the Adams corruption case. He has pleaded innocent in five cases of corruption and bribery.
Bahi’s arrest last month made him the first Adams administration official to be publicly accused of crimes. After the mayor’s own indictment on September.
He served as the mayor’s liaison to the Muslim community while he was mayor. forced to resign A witness tampering complaint against him was disclosed a day earlier — and prosecutors in Adams’ case revealed indications that the mayor’s associates allegedly tried to hinder the FBI’s investigation.
The ledger removed Adams’ name because he pushed a businessman – who appears to be an Uzbek American contractor Tolib Mansurov – The complaint alleges Adams lied to federal authorities about his illegal straw donations to his 2021 mayoral campaign.
According to court papers, Meyer, identified in the complaint as “Official-1,” believed the businessman would not cooperate with law enforcement.”
The ledger also encouraged four of Mansurov’s employees to lie – who allegedly made donations to the mayor on the businessman’s behalf to avoid campaign finance laws – the papers allege.
He pleaded not guilty on October 8 and was released on $250,000 bond.
(Tags to translate)Metro(T)US News(T)City Hall(T)Corruption(T)Eric Adams(T)Eric Adams impeachment(T)Manhattan federal court
