Hamtramck Officials Sue Mayor, Police Chief Over Alleged Corruption, Retaliation

Hamtramck City Manager Max Garbarino and Police Officer David Adamczyk have filed a detailed federal lawsuit accusing Mayor Amer Ghalib, Police Chief Jamiel Altaheri, and several city council members of extensive corruption, misconduct, election interference, and retaliation against whistleblowers. Central to the allegations is a scheme involving Altaheri attempting to secure a presidential pardon from President Donald Trump in exchange for millions of dollars, facilitated through connections to Trump's associates. The lawsuit also accuses city officials of suppressing election fraud investigations, obstructing criminal probes, and misusing police resources, including hiding a stolen vehicle and creating fake police IDs. Garbarino and Adamczyk claim they faced retaliation, including suspensions and harassment, for exposing these acts, with racial bias cited as a contributing factor by their attorneys. The accusations include severe personal misconduct by Altaheri, such as domestic violence and efforts to cover it up. The city has yet to respond to the lawsuit, and the allegations have drawn significant public and legal scrutiny, highlighting deep-rooted governance issues in Hamtramck.