New York City Mayor’s Top Aide Has Phone Seized, Home Searched Amid Corruption Probe
A dramatic turn of events unfolded on Friday as the chief advisor to New York City Mayor Eric Adams, Ingrid Lewis Martin, had her phone confiscated and her residence searched by law enforcement officials. This development came on the same day that Mayor Adams pleaded not guilty to corruption charges in federal court.
Adams is facing allegations of accepting illegal campaign donations and lavish travel gifts in exchange for favors to the Turkish government and Turkish business interests. Martin, who had just returned from a vacation in Japan, was met with investigators who seized her phone upon her arrival. Her attorney, Arthur Aidala, confirmed that her home was also searched for other electronic devices.
Aidala stated that Martin has been served with a subpoena from the Southern District of New York and will fully cooperate with the investigation. He emphasized that Martin is not the target of any known case.
Meanwhile, Mayor Adams, 64, was arraigned on a five-count indictment, which includes charges of conspiracy, bribery, wire fraud, and soliciting campaign contributions from foreign nationals. He waived a public reading of the indictment and entered a not-guilty plea. Under an agreement with prosecutors, Adams was released on his own recognizance, with the condition that he has no contact with witnesses listed in the indictment.
Adams’ legal team plans to file a motion to dismiss the charges next week and is pushing for a speedy trial. The mayor’s legal woes have sparked calls for his resignation from various New York politicians, and Governor Kathy Hochul is considering invoking a provision of the city’s charter to remove him from office.
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