Lehigh County Commissioner Zachary Cole-Borghi was arrested Wednesday and is now staring down a fresh stack of drug-related charges, prosecutors said. Authorities allege Cole-Borghi bought and sold cocaine from multiple locations, including while he worked at Bethlehem City Hall, and that he used his phone to set up deals over a multi-year period. Bail in the new case was set at $500,000, and he is awaiting arraignment at the county's central booking center.
What Prosecutors Say
Lehigh County District Attorney Gavin Holihan said the new indictments are tied to the county's 12th Investigating Grand Jury and involve more than 100 counts. Those include numerous counts of criminal use of a communications facility and several counts of delivering controlled substances.
According to CBS News, investigators obtained search warrants for Cole-Borghi’s cellphone and Apple iCloud, and records allegedly show drug deals taking place between November 2023 and August 2025. Prosecutors also allege he helped facilitate a drug deal during a county commissioners meeting and sold cocaine while attending a symposium at Northampton Community College. It is not exactly the kind of multitasking voters usually expect from a public official.
How The Investigation Unfolded
The newly filed case builds on a sweeping, multi-state probe announced in August 2025 that led to dozens of arrests and sizable seizures of cash, drugs and firearms. As reported by LehighValleyNews.com, prosecutors executed more than two dozen warrants, froze financial and cryptocurrency accounts, and described the operation as the culmination of a three-year grand jury investigation.
Cole-Borghi was among those arrested in late August and had previously posted bail on earlier counts tied to that broader probe. The latest filings effectively stack a new, hefty case file on top of the original one.
Records Fight And Public Role
Media outlets have been pushing to unseal more court materials after prosecutors asked a judge to keep portions of the grand jury presentment sealed, arguing that confidentiality is needed to protect witnesses. The Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press has documented the legal petition seeking access to dockets and filings in the case.
On paper, Cole-Borghi is still part of county government. He remains listed on the county commissioners roster with a placeholder profile, according to the Lehigh County website, even as his legal situation gets more complicated by the week.
What Happens Next
Prosecutors said additional charges could be filed as the investigation continues and more evidence is reviewed. Per CBS News, the complaint currently lists 89 counts of criminal use of a communications facility, 14 counts of delivering cocaine and one count of delivering psilocybin mushrooms.
Cole-Borghi's legal team has not yet filed public motions in the new matter, and the court is expected to set preliminary hearing dates where the evidence can be tested.
Local Reaction
The case has continued to roil local politics. After his initial arrest last year, Cole-Borghi publicly said he would not resign and described earlier accusations as "clearly political," according to prior reporting. County leaders have not announced any new board-level action since the latest filings, and residents along with local groups are closely watching the courthouse calendar to see how quickly the matter moves through the system.
