Ingrid Lewis-Martin, a former top aide to New York Mayor Eric Adams, expects to be indicted on criminal charges related to alleged improper gifts, her lawyer said Monday.
Lewis-Martin abruptly resigned Sunday as Adams’ chief adviser, the latest departure from an administration that has been enveloped in criminal investigations. The mayor’s office called it a planned retirement.
Lewis-Martin’s lawyer, Arthur Aidala, told reporters at a news conference Monday that she had been invited to speak with the grand jury considering charges but declined because the outcome of the investigation appeared to be predetermined. The case involves gifts given to Lewis-Martin, he said, but declined to discuss further details, while claiming — without providing evidence — that the case was politically motivated.
“To say that this doesn’t have to do with politics is just naive,” Aidala said as he sat alongside Lewis-Martin at his office in Manhattan.
Aidala said that he offered to have Lewis-Martin speak to prosecutors after media reports emerged about the grand jury but that the Manhattan district attorney’s office turned them down.