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Former Obama press aide Adam Fetcher is facing a felony charge after allegedly stealing a co-worker’s debit card to buy kratom, a mood-altering drug, at a Minneapolis smoke shop.
Fetcher served as Chief Communications Officer for the City of Minneapolis until he was fired in early July during a police investigation following reports that he stole cash and bank cards from three city employees and blew up hundreds of dollars in smoke shops. Prosecutors formally charged Fetcher with money laundering on Wednesday, the Minneapolis Star Tribune reported.
The allegations create a new political crisis for Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey, who is already under scrutiny for widespread fraud tied to members of the city’s Somali community, a constituency he has built his roots in.
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Adam Fetcher, 42, a former Obama administration press secretary, was fired from the city of Minneapolis’ communications job after he allegedly stole cash and charge cards from city workers to buy kratom, a prescription drug used to treat opioid withdrawal. (City of Minneapolis Instagram; Getty Images)
Before finding himself working for Frey, Fetcher held several high-level communications positions in the Obama administration and the former president’s campaign.
He served as assistant press secretary for the Department of Homeland Security for eight months in 2011. After that, he served as press secretary for Obama’s Department of the Interior until July 2012, when he left the administration to serve as deputy national press secretary for the president’s re-election campaign.
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Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey and Gov. Tim Walz is in the middle of an investigation into the obstruction of justice. (Victor J. Blue/Bloomberg via Getty Images; Jerry Holt/The Minnesota Star Tribune via Getty Images)
After leaving politics, he held a number of corporate roles, including senior communications at Patagonia and Lyft.
It’s not clear why the former Obama press aide stole small amounts of money from co-workers when city records show he was making about $200,000 a year in his role as Minneapolis’ top communications executive. Fetcher also had no criminal record at the time of the alleged fraud, other than a few traffic violations, according to court records.
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This Sept. 27, 2017 file photo shows kratom pills in Albany, NY (AP Photo/Mary Esch, File)
People familiar with the matter told the Minneapolis Star Tribune that Fetcher is accused of stealing cash and cards from co-workers’ desks and purses shortly after he returned from a rehabilitation program. He revealed to his colleagues that he wants to be treated for a drug problem, according to the source.
Kratom is commonly used to treat opioid withdrawal symptoms, although it can be addictive on its own. This product has come under increased federal and state scrutiny in recent years.
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Fetcher’s attorney told Fox News Digital he had no comment. He is expected to appear in court on August 11.
Fox News Digital reached out to Obama’s representative Thursday for comment but did not receive a response.
