Adam Fetcher is being investigated for having stolen money and cards from colleagues to finance kratom purchases while working at the city hall
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Adam Fetcher, former press secretary for Democratic ex-president Barack Obama and until a few days ago head of Communications for the city of Minneapolis, was fired from his position following a police investigation linking him to theft of cash and credit cards belonging to coworkers. Authorities are also investigating whether the funds were used to purchase kratom, a plant-derived substance with psychoactive properties.
Fetcher, 42, had held the position of Chief Communications Officer (CCO) for the Minneapolis municipal government since 2025, a cabinet-level position created by Mayor Jacob Frey. His departure came after the Minneapolis Police submitted a file to the Hennepin County Attorney's Office to assess the filing of criminal charges.
According to the investigation, three municipal employees reported the disappearance of cash and credit or debit cards from their desks and personal belongings. They later detected purchases they had never authorized, which initiated the police inquiry.
A former spokesperson for Obama and an official from Minneapolis was fired from his position for stealing money to use for the purchase of psychoactive substances
According to numerous newspapers, investigators claim that Fetcher used at least one of the stolen cards to make purchases at a tobacco product store and items related to kratom consumption. Security cameras at the establishment reportedly recorded a transaction for $481 in which the former official appears.
The store is located less than two kilometers from Fetcher's home. According to the store manager, Hamza Zamara, employees began to suspect after receiving a call from a customer who reported an unauthorized charge on her bank card. After reviewing the surveillance footage, staff identified a regular customer and, when he returned to the store, took photographs and recorded his vehicle's license plate, information that was later provided to the police.
The Hennepin County Attorney's Office is now analyzing whether to file charges for fraudulent use of a credit card, a crime that could be considered a felony due to the amount of the purchase. So far, no formal charges have been announced, and the case remains under review by prosecutors.
Judicial records cited by U.S. media indicate that Fetcher has no criminal record in Minnesota beyond minor traffic violations.
Kratom is a substance that, while legally sold in most of the country, can produce effects similar to opioids and dependence
The investigation also focused on kratom consumption, a substance derived from a tree native to Southeast Asia. The product is legally sold in much of the United States, typically at gas stations and specialty stores.
In high doses, it can produce effects similar to opioids and lead to dependence, which is why several U.S. states have banned its sale. Minnesota, however, is not among the states that maintain that restriction.
Various media reported that Fetcher had completed a substance abuse rehabilitation program approved by the city this year, although he reportedly suffered a relapse afterward. According to the ''New York Post'', the thefts under investigation occurred between May and June, just a few weeks after his return to work.
Fetcher’s dismissal also means the loss of a salary of nearly $190,000 per year. The city of Minneapolis confirmed that he ceased to perform his duties on July 1, although it did not provide further details due to the ongoing investigation.
Fetcher had completed a substance abuse rehabilitation program, but he may have had a relapse
Before joining the municipal government, Fetcher had an extensive career in political and corporate communication. During Barack Obama's administration, he worked as deputy national press secretary and later held executive positions at companies like Patagonia, Rivian, and Lyft, where he directed institutional communication strategies.
After the case became known, municipal officials sent an email to employees alerting them about recent reports of missing money and bank cards within the offices, as well as recommending heightened security measures to protect their personal belongings.
As the investigation continues, it will be the Hennepin County Attorney's Office that determines whether there is sufficient evidence to file formal charges against the former official. Until then, the accusations remain under review and Fetcher retains the presumption of innocence under the U.S. judicial system.
Before working for the Democratic administration of Minnesota, Fetcher had held a position in Barack Obama's communist government
