New York City Mayor Eric Adams’s (D) former top aide, Ingrid Lewis-Martin, was indicted on bribery charges Thursday alongside her son and two real estate investors who were developing the Glass Ceiling, a rooftop bar near Herald Square, and the Hotel on Rivington on the Lower East Side
The alleged money laundering scheme exceeded $100,000 in payments to Lewis-Martin and her son Glen Martin II in exchange for her City Hall influence to help realtors complete their construction plans.
The two parties are accused of using the messaging app Signal to cover up the conspiracy communications through encrypted coding.
At one point, Lewis-Martin’s son Glen was allegedly used as the go-between for asks about expedited construction applications or other needs.
“When City officials monetize their office for personal gain, they undermine fundamental principles of integrity in government, diminish trust in public officials, and unfairly tarnish the reputations of the countless City employees who use their office solely to serve the public good. I thank the Manhattan District Attorney’s Office for its steadfast partnership on these important public corruption investigations,” state Department of Investigation Commissioner Jocelyn E. Strauber said in a statement.
Lewis-Martin and Martin II are charged with bribe receiving in the first degree and money laundering in the third degree.
She is the latest official in Adams’s administration to receive federal charges over alleged misconduct while serving in his administration.
The Democratic mayor has denied all claims of wrongdoing as speculation has swirled that Adams may receive a pardon from President-elect Trump after comments suggesting he was open to the idea of returning to the Republican Party.
Updated at 2:16 pm ET.
