In a stunning turn of events, a former Obama press aide is facing a felony charge after being accused of stealing a coworker's debit card to purchase kratom from a Minneapolis smoke shop.
Adam Fetcher, who served as the Chief Communications Officer for the City of Minneapolis until his firing in early July, is now charged with a felony count of financial transaction fraud.
The allegations have created a fresh political problem for Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey, who is already facing scrutiny over widespread fraud tied to members of the city's Somali community, a constituency with which he has cultivated close political ties.
Frey's office has been plagued by controversy in recent months, with Fetcher's case joining a growing list of allegations involving city employees and officials.
Fether's background is also raising eyebrows, given his high-profile roles in the Obama administration and his tenure as a communications director for the City of Minneapolis.
He served as the assistant press secretary for the Department of Homeland Security in 2011 and later as press secretary for the Department of the Interior until July 2012.
Fether then joined the Obama reelection campaign as deputy national press secretary before taking on corporate roles at Patagonia and Lyft.
Despite his high salary and lack of a prior criminal record, Fetcher is accused of stealing relatively small amounts of cash from coworkers, sparking questions about his motivations.
Individuals familiar with the matter have revealed that Fetcher may have stolen cash and cards from coworkers' desks and bags shortly after returning from a rehabilitation program, where he had sought treatment for a substance abuse problem.
Kratom, the substance Fetcher is accused of purchasing, is commonly used to treat opioid withdrawal symptoms but can also be addictive.
Fether's attorney declined to comment on the allegations, and he is scheduled to appear in court on August 11.
