Prosecutors indict top adviser to NYC Mayor Adams on bribery charges

4 hrs ago

Listen

Lauren Taylor Anchor

By Lauren Taylor (Anchor), Roey Hadar (Producer), Zachary Hill (Video Editor)

Days after resigning from her role, the longtime top adviser to New York Mayor Eric Adams pleaded not guilty after prosecutors indicted her on bribery charges. Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg brought indictments against Ingrid Lewis-Martin, her son Glenn Martin II and two real estate investors.

Bias Distribution Powered by Ground News™

“We allege that Ingrid Lewis-Martin engaged in a long running bribery, money laundering and conspiracy scheme by using her position and authority as the chief adviser to the New York City mayor, the second highest position in city government, to illegally influence city decisions in exchange [for] in excess of $100,000 in cash and other benefits for herself and her son, Glenn Martin II,” Bragg said in a press conference on Thursday, Dec. 19.

Download the SAN app today to stay up-to-date with Unbiased. Straight Facts™.

Point phone camera here

The indictment says the investors asked Lewis-Martin for help with approvals for projects that included a rooftop bar and a hotel.

They paid $100,000 to Lewis-Martin’s son, who used the money to purchase a $113,000 Porsche last year. The New York Post obtained a photo of Martin when he purportedly bought the car.

Lewis-Martin denied any wrongdoing and says she has been “falsely accused.” However, she has also been at the center of a federal investigation into allegations of corruption in the mayor’s office.

Two previous NYPD chiefs, Edward Caban and Thomas Donlon, stepped aside after federal investigations probed their conduct.

Adams, meanwhile, faces federal corruption charges that the Justice Department brought in September. In the indictment, prosecutors allege he took bribes from Turkish government officials and businessmen.

Adams has a trial on those federal charges scheduled for April 2025. But in his comments, Bragg said the charges against Lewis-Martin do not allege any criminal conduct on the mayor’s part.

“The mayor is not a target of our investigation and we do not have evidence of criminal conduct by the mayor,” Bragg said.

Tags: Alvin Bragg, Eric Adams, Manhattan, New York City

LAUREN TAYLOR: Just days after resigning from her role ahead of schedule, the longtime top adviser to New York Mayor Eric Adams pleaded not guilty after being indicted on bribery charges.

Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg brought indictments against Ingrid Lewis-Martin, as well as her son Glenn, and two real estate investors.

Alvin Bragg / Manhattan District Attorney:We allege that Ingrid Lewis-Martin engaged in a long running bribery, money laundering and conspiracy scheme by using her position and authority as the chief adviser of– chief adviser to the New York City mayor, the second highest position in city government to illegally influence city decisions in exchange of, in excess of $100,000 in cash and other benefits for herself and her son, Glenn Martin II.

LAUREN TAYLOR: The indictment says the two investors sought help from Lewis-Martin in getting approvals for their projects, including a rooftop bar and a hotel.

They paid $100,000 to Lewis-Martin’s son, who put the money toward buying a $113,000 Porsche last year. The New York Post obtained this photo of Martin on the day he purportedly bought the car.

Lewis-Martin denied any wrongdoing and says she has been, quote, “falsely accused.”

But she has also been in the crosshairs of a federal investigation into allegations of corruption in the mayor’s office.

Two previous chiefs of the NYPD, Edward Caban and Thomas Donlon, each stepped aside after federal investigations probed their conduct.

Adams faces federal corruption charges that the Justice Department brought in September, alleging that he took bribes from Turkish government officials and businessmen.

Adams is currently scheduled to face trial on those federal charges in April. But in his comments today, District Attorney Bragg said the local charges against Lewis-Martin do not allege any criminal conduct on the mayor’s part.

Alvin Bragg / Manhattan District Attorney: “The mayor is not a target of our investigation and we do not have evidence of criminal conduct by the mayor.“

LAUREN TAYLOR: For Straight Arrow News, I’m Lauren Taylor.

And for all the latest updates on this and other top stories, download the Straight Arrow News app or visit SAN.com.