By Daily Mail (U.S.) | Created at 2024-12-16 02:34:52 | Updated at 2024-12-16 04:57:07
2 hours ago
Ingrid Lewis-Martin, a longtime confidante and top advisor to New York City Mayor Eric Adams, is allegedly bracing for an indictment expected to drop this week.
Sources close to the investigation confirmed that the Manhattan District Attorney's Office has been probing Lewis-Martin's alleged involvement in questionable city property leases, reports the New York Post.
The scandal that now threatens to dismantle the mayor's inner circle.
Lewis-Martin, 67, has long been a towering figure in City Hall, serving as Adams' Chief Advisor and often described as his 'sister ordained by God.'
Her influence was unparalleled, but so too were the controversies surrounding her tenure.
Over the weekend, Lewis-Martin abruptly resigned from her position, a dramatic exit that signals a grim chapter for the Adams administration, already reeling from multiple investigations over corruption.
At the heart of the investigation is an alleged scheme involving the leasing of city commercial properties to close friends and allies of Lewis-Martin.
While the specifics of the indictment remain under wraps, sources told the Post that Manhattan prosecutors have been combing through evidence for months, following the seizure of Lewis-Martin's phone at JFK Airport in late September.
Ingrid Lewis-Martin, a longtime confidante and top advisor to New York City Mayor Eric Adams , is bracing for an indictment expected to drop this week
Lewis-Martin, 67, has long been a towering figure in City Hall, serving as Adams' Chief Advisor and often described as his 'sister ordained by God'
That high-profile incident occurred as Lewis-Martin returned from a vacation in Japan with a group of close associates, including key figures in the city's real estate dealings.
Investigators also confiscated the phones of several others linked to the alleged property scandal, including Jesse Hamilton, a top city real estate official, and Diana Boutross, a private broker involved in city leases.
The investigation has cast a shadow over City Hall, where federal raids and subpoenas have become an almost routine affair as Adams federal bribery and corruption charges.
While several high-ranking officials have already been ensnared, Lewis-Martin's involvement takes the crisis surrounding Mayor Adams' administration to a new level.
Known for her unwavering loyalty to Adams and her no-holds-barred approach, Lewis-Martin was both revered and reviled.
'I'm not Michelle Obama,' she once declared in an interview with City & State. 'When they go low? We drill for oil. I'll meet you down in the subbasement.'
This combative attitude made her a formidable force in City Hall while also earning her a reputation for controversy.
She staunchly defended Timothy Pearson and Winnie Greco, two controversial aides she brought into the administration, even as federal raids and internal pressures demanded their removal.
Over the weekend, Lewis-Martin abruptly resigned from her position, a dramatic exit that signals a grim chapter for the Adams administration, already reeling from multiple investigations over corruption
From left, Ruben Diaz Jr., Fat Joe, Mayor Eric Adams and Ingrid Lewis-Martin attend the Rise Up NYC Concert With Fat Joe in August , in New York City
There has reportedly been a rift between her and the mayor, with insiders claiming the two had barely spoken in months
Her refusal to back down reportedly created a rift between her and the mayor, with insiders claiming the two had barely spoken in months.
For years, Lewis-Martin managed to stay above the fray, even as scandal swirled around City Hall.
That all changed dramatically upon her return from Japan. At JFK, she was met by investigators from the Manhattan DA's office, who confiscated her phone and served her with a subpoena.
Hours later, she appeared on her lawyer Arthur Aidala's radio show, defiantly proclaiming her innocence.
'We are imperfect, but we're not thieves,' she declared on-air. 'In the end, I do believe that the New York City public will see that we have not done anything illegal to the magnitude or scale that requires the federal government and the DA office to investigate us.'
Investigators also confiscated the phones of several others linked to the alleged property scandal, including Jesse Hamilton, a top city real estate official, and Diana Boutross, a private broker involved in city lease
Adams has yet to publicly address the full scope of the allegations against his former advisor but the scandal adds to a growing list of legal challenges for his administration
Her resignation on Sunday came as a shock to many, particularly as she had previously announced plans to retire in January.
The abrupt nature of her departure has only fueled speculation about the severity of the charges she now faces.
Mayor Adams, who has faced mounting scrutiny over his administration's legal woes, distanced himself from Lewis-Martin's Japan trip and the subsequent fallout.
'I didn't know where Ingrid was going,' he told reporters. 'She doesn't tell me when she's taking a vacation and where she's going.'
Adams has yet to publicly address the full scope of the allegations against his former advisor but the scandal adds to a growing list of legal challenges for his administration, which is already grappling with federal bribery and corruption charges involving top officials.
