Eric Adams' close confidante raided, subsequently discusses event on radio
Officers intercepted Ingrid Lewis-Martin at JFK airport upon her return from a vacation.
TroibNews 
NEW YORK — Law enforcement officials were at JFK Airport on Friday, awaiting the return of New York City Mayor Eric Adams’ closest confidante, following her overseas vacation.
In a significant turn of events, they seized Ingrid Lewis-Martin’s phone and conducted a raid on her Brooklyn residence, intensifying the investigations surrounding the mayor’s inner circle on the same day he faced arraignment on federal corruption charges.
Lewis-Martin, who has been a chief adviser to Adams for four decades, was served a subpoena by federal agents from the Southern District of New York, according to her lawyer Arthur Aidala. Her electronic devices were transferred to state agents from the Manhattan District Attorney’s office.
Later that day, Lewis-Martin gave an interview where she recounted the encounter while speaking with Aidala, a well-known criminal attorney who also hosts a talk radio show.
Maintaining her innocence — alongside that of the mayor — she acknowledged the possibility of actions that might be outside legal boundaries. “We are imperfect, but we’re not thieves,” she stated on AM 970. “And I do believe that in the end 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’s office to investigate us.”
In coverage of the event, videos from news outlets depicted agents removing boxes from Lewis-Martin’s row house, emphasizing that she was not home during the raid.
The incident underscored that the investigations into the mayor — a Democrat — encompass more than just the fraud and bribery charges he pleaded not guilty to on that Friday.
Lewis-Martin intends to cooperate fully with the investigation, affirming that she is “not the target of any case of which we are aware.”
As news of the search spread, reporters gathered outside her residence on a tranquil central Brooklyn street. Passing drivers slowed down to take in the scene, with TV crews broadcasting live reports. There was no sign of Lewis-Martin, and no one answered the doorbell Thursday evening.
City Hall refrained from commenting and directed inquiries to Lewis-Martin’s attorney.
During her travels, Lewis-Martin has been accompanied by Jesse Hamilton, another supporter of Adams and leader within the Department of Citywide Administrative Services. She admitted on Aidala’s program that there was a brief altercation with the agents who confiscated her phone, describing them as professional and doing their jobs. “I have to admit that I wasn’t as polite as I normally am, because I was annoyed, and I was like, ‘Well, I need a phone. I need something. You’ve got to give me something back.’ And I got a little vociferous,” she remarked, noting that she later apologized to one of the officers.
Neither Aidala nor Lewis-Martin revealed which airline she took for her trip to and from Japan.
So far, Lewis-Martin has not been accused of any wrongdoing. Adams pleaded not guilty in Manhattan on Friday to five charges, including fraud and bribery. Federal prosecutors have accused him of receiving extravagant travel benefits, illegal campaign contributions, and other advantages from Turkish officials in return for expediting the approval of a Turkish consulate in Manhattan.
Joe Anuta contributed to this report.
Ramin Sohrabi for TROIB News
In a significant turn of events, they seized Ingrid Lewis-Martin’s phone and conducted a raid on her Brooklyn residence, intensifying the investigations surrounding the mayor’s inner circle on the same day he faced arraignment on federal corruption charges.
Lewis-Martin, who has been a chief adviser to Adams for four decades, was served a subpoena by federal agents from the Southern District of New York, according to her lawyer Arthur Aidala. Her electronic devices were transferred to state agents from the Manhattan District Attorney’s office.
Later that day, Lewis-Martin gave an interview where she recounted the encounter while speaking with Aidala, a well-known criminal attorney who also hosts a talk radio show.
Maintaining her innocence — alongside that of the mayor — she acknowledged the possibility of actions that might be outside legal boundaries. “We are imperfect, but we’re not thieves,” she stated on AM 970. “And I do believe that in the end 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’s office to investigate us.”
In coverage of the event, videos from news outlets depicted agents removing boxes from Lewis-Martin’s row house, emphasizing that she was not home during the raid.
The incident underscored that the investigations into the mayor — a Democrat — encompass more than just the fraud and bribery charges he pleaded not guilty to on that Friday.
Lewis-Martin intends to cooperate fully with the investigation, affirming that she is “not the target of any case of which we are aware.”
As news of the search spread, reporters gathered outside her residence on a tranquil central Brooklyn street. Passing drivers slowed down to take in the scene, with TV crews broadcasting live reports. There was no sign of Lewis-Martin, and no one answered the doorbell Thursday evening.
City Hall refrained from commenting and directed inquiries to Lewis-Martin’s attorney.
During her travels, Lewis-Martin has been accompanied by Jesse Hamilton, another supporter of Adams and leader within the Department of Citywide Administrative Services. She admitted on Aidala’s program that there was a brief altercation with the agents who confiscated her phone, describing them as professional and doing their jobs. “I have to admit that I wasn’t as polite as I normally am, because I was annoyed, and I was like, ‘Well, I need a phone. I need something. You’ve got to give me something back.’ And I got a little vociferous,” she remarked, noting that she later apologized to one of the officers.
Neither Aidala nor Lewis-Martin revealed which airline she took for her trip to and from Japan.
So far, Lewis-Martin has not been accused of any wrongdoing. Adams pleaded not guilty in Manhattan on Friday to five charges, including fraud and bribery. Federal prosecutors have accused him of receiving extravagant travel benefits, illegal campaign contributions, and other advantages from Turkish officials in return for expediting the approval of a Turkish consulate in Manhattan.
Joe Anuta contributed to this report.
Ramin Sohrabi for TROIB News
