Former top aide to New York City’s mayor surrenders to DA’s office to face charges
NEW YORK– A former top aide to New York Mayor Eric Adams surrendered to authorities Thursday to face corruption charges in the latest blow to the administration of a mayor facing his own indictment and investigations into multiple aides and allies.
Ingrid Lewis-Martin, who resigned On Sunday, Adams’ chief adviser and one of City Hall’s most powerful officials was seen entering Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg’s office in Lower Manhattan early Thursday morning.
Bragg and city watchdog commissioner Jocelyn Strauber have scheduled a news conference Thursday afternoon. The subject was not disclosed, but two people familiar with the matter told The Associated Press that Lewis-Martin was expected to be arraigned Thursday afternoon on charges provided by Bragg’s office.
The people were not authorized to publicly discuss the details of the case and spoke to the AP on condition of anonymity. The specific charges against Lewis-Martin have not been publicly announced and remain unclear.
Messages seeking comment were left Thursday with the district attorney’s office and with Lewis-Martin’s attorney, Arthur Aidala.
The Ministry of Investigation declined comment on Wednesday.
Aidala told reporters this week that Lewis-Martin is expected to face criminal charges in connection with alleged inappropriate gifts.
Lewis-Martin said Monday that she was “falsely accused” and that she “did not make any prior arrangements to accept gifts or money, or to have gifts or money given to a family member or friend so that I could do my job.” ”
The charges against Lewis-Martin come as the Adams administration did hampered by criminal investigation.
Adams, a Democrat, has been one himself in charge of conspiracy, wire fraud and bribery in an unrelated federal case set to go to trial next April. He has pleaded not guilty.
Lewis-Martin, 63, has been one of the mayor’s closest confidantes throughout his political career. He held senior positions under Adams as he rose through the ranks of government in New York over the past nearly two decades. Her most recent position as Adams’ chief adviser made her one of City Hall’s top officials.
She has been targeted by investigators since at least September, when federal prosecutors and prosecutors in Manhattan began working met her at an airport in New York when she left Japan. At the time, federal prosecutors served her a subpoena, while Manhattan prosecutors seized her phones and searched her home.
Adams was accused in September of accepting luxury travel benefits and illegal campaign contributions from a Turkish official and other foreigners seeking to buy his influence.
The investigation into Adams became public late last year after federal agents searched the house from his top fundraiser, Brianna Suggs. Lewis-Martin has called Suggs her goddaughter.
Since then, the Adams administration has been plagued by a series of searches and seizures by investigators, leading to the resignation of top officials, including his police commissioner, chancellor of schoolsseveral deputy mayors And its director of Asian affairs.
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Associated Press writer Karen Matthews contributed.