Ingrid Lewis-Martin, the former chief adviser to Mayor Adams who is now under indictment on bribery accusations, is expected to be hit with more criminal charges Thursday, the Daily News has learned.
Arthur Aidala, Lewis-Martin’s attorney, confirmed she will appear in court Thursday to be arraigned on the additional charges.
“The District Attorney has refused to provide any details about the charges,” Aidala said. “Despite a lifetime of service as a law-abiding public servant, Ingrid is being forced to enter court with little information. What she does know is this: she has always served the City with integrity, and she will firmly plead not guilty to every charge.”
A source told The News the new charges against Lewis-Martin may be unrelated to her already existing bribery case, brought by Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg. Bragg’s office declined to comment Wednesday.
The new charges come months after Lewis-Martin was first charged in a bribery scheme involving two real estate investors accused of bribing her and her son in exchange for the top City Hall adviser securing official favors for them with the Department of Buildings.
The new charges also come as Lewis-Martin, who resigned from City Hall late last year, is playing an active role in his reelection effort, as first reported by The News in June. Running as an independent in November’s mayoral election, Adams already faces long odds as he faces continued political fallout from his own federal corruption indictment, which was dismissed by President Trump’s Justice Department as part of a controversial arrangement.
“Mayor Adams was not involved in this matter and has not been accused of or implicated in any wrongdoing,” Kayla Mamelak, a spoksewoman for the mayor, said in response to word of Lewis-Martin’s forthcoming additional charges.
Lewis-Martin resigned from her powerful post at City Hall just days before she was indicted. She has pleaded not guilty in the bribery scheme, as have her son and the two businessmen.
In September, Lewis-Martin had her electronic devices seized by investigators with the DA’s office after landing at JFK Airport from a trip to Japan.
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