**Mayor Adams' Bribery Scandal Deepens with Arrest of Former NYC Official**

A significant development emerged in the federal probe involving New York City Mayor Eric Adams, with a former city official facing charges related to tampering with witnesses and destroying evidence. Mohamed Bahi, who resigned from his role as a community affairs liaison on Monday, has been accused of instructing a businessman and campaign donors to lie to the FBI and of deleting the encrypted messaging app, Signal, from his phone while FBI agents conducted a search of his residence in July. This app had been used for communications between Bahi and Mayor Adams, according to prosecutors.

Bahi, a 40-year-old Staten Island resident, is set to appear in federal court in Manhattan but information regarding legal representation has not been disclosed. His arrest marks the first charge against anyone other than the Mayor in the ongoing investigation. Mayor Adams, a Democrat, has pleaded not guilty to the charges against him and pledged to remain in office.

Recent weeks have seen a wave of high-profile resignations from Adams' administration, exacerbating the turmoil. Notably, First Deputy Mayor Sheena Wright resigned on Monday, a departure that followed the resignations of Deputy Mayor for Public Safety Philip Banks and Director of Asian Affairs Winnie Greco. Both Banks and Greco were involved in contentious fundraising efforts for the mayor. Additionally, the city's schools chancellor, David Banks, is set to step down later this month. Federal investigators have also seized the devices of all these officials, who have denied any wrongdoing.

Governor Kathy Hochul has been urging Mayor Adams to stabilize his administration and ensure critical positions are occupied by responsible individuals. Last week, Hochul emphasized her cooperation with Adams to address the administrative crisis. In a bold declaration, U.S. Attorney Damian Williams emphasized the gravity of Bahi’s charges, underscoring their commitment to pursue the investigation thoroughly.

Despite the growing scrutiny and departures within his administration, Mayor Adams continues to assert his innocence, facing allegations of accepting lavish gifts and seeking illicit campaign contributions from foreign interests, valued at approximately $100,000.