A former Obama administration communications official has been fired from a senior position with the City of Minneapolis after an internal investigation into allegations that he stole cash and financial cards from coworkers, according to multiple reports.
Adam Fetcher, 42, was dismissed July 1 from his role as Minneapolis’ chief communications officer, a cabinet-level position created by Mayor Jacob Frey in 2025. Fetcher earned an annual salary of $186,495 and had served in the role for about one year.
Before joining Minneapolis city government, Fetcher held communications and public relations positions at several major companies, including Patagonia, Lyft, New Belgium Brewing and Rivian. He also served as deputy national press secretary for former President Barack Obama’s 2012 reelection campaign and later worked in communications for the U.S. Department of the Interior.
According to reports, the city launched an internal investigation after several employees accused Fetcher of stealing cash, debit cards and credit cards from desks and purses inside city offices.
The alleged incidents occurred between mid-May and early June, shortly after Fetcher returned to work following a nine-week leave of absence that had been approved for treatment related to a substance abuse disorder.
The Minneapolis Star Tribune reported that surveillance footage from a south Minneapolis smoke shop allegedly showed Fetcher using one of the stolen credit cards to purchase approximately $481 worth of kratom on June 18.
The smoke shop is located less than a mile from Fetcher’s residence.
According to the newspaper, store employees identified Fetcher as a frequent customer who regularly purchased kratom. Employees reportedly assisted investigators by confirming his identity and providing his vehicle’s license plate number after a customer disputed an unauthorized transaction.
Authorities allege the stolen financial cards were used to make hundreds of dollars in fraudulent purchases, primarily at tobacco stores and smoke shops throughout the Minneapolis area.
Minneapolis police investigated the allegations and submitted the completed case to the Hennepin County Attorney’s Office on July 8 for review.
As of Saturday, prosecutors had not filed criminal charges.
A spokesperson for Hennepin County Attorney Mary Moriarty confirmed the case remains under review.
Under Minnesota law, financial transaction card fraud can be prosecuted as a felony depending on the value of the alleged fraudulent transactions.
Fetcher had been appointed by Mayor Frey in July 2025 as Minneapolis’ first cabinet-level communications director, per Trending Politics.
His hiring followed a communications career spanning both the public and private sectors, including leadership roles with major corporations and political organizations.
Kratom, the substance allegedly purchased using one of the disputed credit cards, is a plant-derived supplement that remains legal under federal law in the United States.
Derived from the leaves of the Southeast Asian tree Mitragyna speciosa, kratom interacts with opioid receptors in the brain and is commonly used for pain relief, mood enhancement or management of opioid withdrawal symptoms.
Health experts have cautioned that regular kratom use can lead to physical dependence and withdrawal symptoms, including anxiety, insomnia, muscle aches and irritability.
