Former Obama staffer accused of stealing from colleagues to fund drug habit

By JOE HUTCHISON, US SENIOR NEWS REPORTER Published: 14:28, 11 July 2026 | Updated: 14:29, 11 July 2026 A former press secretary for Barack Obama was fired from his job after allegedly stealing from his colleagues to fund a drug habit. Adam Fetcher, 42, was let go from his role as Chief Communications Officer for the City of Minneapolis last week amid a police probe, The Minnesota Star Tribune reported. According to the outlet, Fetcher, who earned $186,495 a year in his role, is accused of stealing cash and credit cards from three of his colleagues and racking up fraudulent charges in smoke shops.  Sources told the outlet that Fetcher would steal from colleagues' desks and purses to fund his habit even after returning from a work-approved rehab stint earlier this year.  Insiders also said that he was caught on surveillance footage using one of the stolen cards to buy Kratom, a substance which is used to manage opioid withdrawal. The unregulated herbal powder is typically marketed as promising renewed focus and energy and is known for its addictive qualities. Police in Minneapolis submitted a case file against him to the Hennepin County Attorney's Office earlier this week to seek criminal charges. The pending case stems from an incident last month in which he is accused of stealing a credit card from a colleague's purse and charging $481 to it inside a smoke shop. Fetcher, who earned $186,495 a year in the role, is accused of stealing cash and credit cards from three of his colleagues and racking up fraudulent charges in smoke shops According to his LinkedIn profile, Fetcher previously worked as the deputy national press secretary for the Obama administration State laws indicate that a fraudulent use of a card for that amount would qualify as a felony if prosecutors decide to move forward with the case. Staff at the smoke shop, just a mile from his home, told the outlet that a woman called the store saying someone had charged her card without her permission.  Store manager Hamza Zamara told the outlet that his staff identified Fetcher as the man who used the card, describing him as a longtime customer.  After Fetcher returned to the store another time, employees took a picture of him and his car, telling him: 'We know what you're doing', and later reported him to police.  The incidents happened between May and June, just a few weeks after he returned from work after taking nine weeks of personal leave for treatment in February.  On July 1, Fetcher was fired by City Operations Officer Margaret Anderson Kelliher who informed staff of a change in leadership that same day.  The internal email obtained by the outlet said: 'Under Adam’s leadership, the Communications team has reorganized, is fully staffed, and is well positioned to manage the City’s Communications needs.' It made no mention of the circumstances surrounding his dismissal, only that he had been replaced.  Police in Minneapolis submitted a case file against him to the Hennepin County Attorney's Office earlier this week to seek criminal charges, the case is under review The unregulated herbal powder is typically marketed as promising renewed focus and energy and is known for its addictive qualities A follow up email from Kelliher sent this week mentioned that a number of city employees had reported 'missing cash, debit or credit cards.' Kelliher said that some of the stolen cards resulted in unauthorized charges, adding: 'I know this information may be concerning and troubling, and I want to assure you that the City takes this sort of report seriously and has acted accordingly. 'Although we cannot provide additional details, we have no reason at this time to believe there is any ongoing risk of theft.' According to his LinkedIn profile, Fetcher previously worked as the deputy national press secretary for the Obama administration and held senior communication roles for Rivian, Lyft, and Patagonia before his brief stint in Minneapolis. The Daily Mail approached Fetcher's attorney for comment.   Federal regulators have been scrutinizing kratom for about a decade after reports of addiction, injury and overdose.  But users and distributors have long opposed efforts to regulate it, saying kratom could be a safer alternative to the opioid painkillers that sparked the ongoing drug addiction epidemic.  An industry group, the American Kratom Association, has lobbied Congress for years against restrictions on the plant.  Legislation supported by the group would prohibit the Food and Drug Administration from regulating kratom more strictly than food and dietary supplements.