Ingrid Lewis Martin, former chief advisor to New York City Mayor Eric Adams (Democratic), was indicted Thursday on bribery, money laundering and conspiracy charges.
In anticipation of the impending situation indictmentLewis Martin resigned on Sunday.
“Twisting the facts”
“The pieces of the puzzle are going to be put together to make it look as horrifying as possible,” Arthur Aidala, Lewis Martin's attorney, told The Associated Press over the weekend.
“But we know the truth, and the truth is that Ingrid Lewis Martin never broke the law,” he said.
“I'm being accused of something,” Lewis-Martin declared Sunday, adding that he didn't yet know the details of the charges.
“And during my term, I have never received any gifts or money,” she declared. “I do not accept gifts or money for my work or have any arrangements in advance for family or friends to give me gifts or money.''
Prosecutors argued that Lewis Martin “abused his position and sold his influence to enrich himself and his family.”
Lewis Martin's son, Glenn D. Martin II, and a real estate investor are also indicted.
Martin II allegedly received $100,000 in exchange for Lewis Martin expediting city approvals for the two investors. The funds were reportedly deposited into an account shared with his mother.
Aidala said of the quick approval that Lewis Martin is “just moving things along.”
Aidala called the prosecution's allegations “ridiculous.”
“So Ingrid is going to take the bribe and draw the check and put it into her bank account,” he said. “Really?!”
Martin II's attorney, Michael Civella, told The Associated Press that prosecutors are “distorting the facts.” Mr. Civella said Martin II only “developed friendships with successful and hard-working businessmen.”
All parties have pleaded not guilty.
Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg said Adams is not part of the investigation into Lewis Martin. But Mr. Adams faces his own bribery charges in a separate investigation.
The mayor was accused of receiving lavish travel benefits and illegal campaign donations from Turkish authorities. Adams has pleaded not guilty. His trial is scheduled for April.
On Monday, President-elect Donald Trump said he would consider pardoning Adams.
“I think he was treated very unfairly,” Trump told reporters.
He speculated that Adams was targeted because he had “made some pretty strong statements” about the Biden administration's immigration failures.
President Trump said of the charges, “I haven't seen the gravity of the situation, but it's like an upgrade on a plane years ago.''
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