UNITED STATES -November 28: Mayor Eric Adams sits next to chief advisor Ingrid Lewis-Martin during his week off topic press conference at City Hall Blue Room, Tuesday November 28, 2023. Luiz C. Ribeiro | New York Daily News | Getty Images

Top Eric Adams advisor has phone seized, home searched as NYC mayor pleads not guilty

by · CNBC

Key Points

  • New York City Mayor Eric Adams pleaded not guilty in U.S. District Court in Manhattan to criminal charges accusing him of receiving illegal campaign donations and undisclosed luxury travel gifts while doing favors for Turkey's government and Turkish businesspeople.
  • Adams, who was released without bail, is charged with conspiracy, bribery, wire fraud and soliciting campaign contributions by foreign nationals.
  • He vows to fight the case, even as a growing number of New York politicians call for his resignation and as Gov. Kathy Hochul, a fellow Democrat, weighs whether to force him from office.

The chief advisor to New York City Mayor Eric Adams had her phone seized and her home searched by law enforcement authorities Friday, the same day that Adams pleaded not guilty in federal court in Manhattan at his arraignment on corruption charges, NBC News reported.

Adams is charged with receiving illegal campaign donations and gifts of undisclosed luxury travel while doing favors for Turkey's government and Turkish businesspeople.

His chief advisor, Ingrid Lewis Martin, arrived back in New York on Friday after a vacation in Japan.

Upon her arrival, Martin's phone was seized by investigators.

Martin's home also was searched by authorities for other electronics, her attorney Arthur Aidala told NBC News.

"Ingrid Lewis Martin has been served with a subpoena from the Southern District of New York and her phones were given to the New York County District Attorney's Office," Aidala said.

"She will cooperate fully with any and all investigations  and Ms. Lewis is not the target of any case of which we are aware," Aidala said.

Adams, 64, is charged in a five-count indictment unsealed Thursday alleging conspiracy, bribery, wire fraud and soliciting campaign contributions by foreign nationals.

The mayor told Magistrate Judge Katharine Parker at Friday's hearing that he understood his rights as a defendant. He waived a public reading of the indictment in court.

Asked by Parker what his plea was, Adams replied, "I am not guilty, your honor."

Under an agreement with prosecutors, Adams will be free on his promise to return to court for all proceedings, without having to post monetary bail.

Parker said, "He shall have no contact with any individual witnesses or others listed in the list to be provided by the government concerning the facts or circumstances as provided in the indictment."

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Adams' lawyer, Alex Spiro, told Parker, "We will be filing a motion to dismiss" the charges next Wednesday, when the mayor is next due in court for a conference in the case.

Spiro also said, "We are going to be wanting a speedy trial here."

Adams, even before the indictment, was facing a growing number of challengers in the Democratic mayoral primary next year.

He has vowed to fight the case, even as an increasing number of New York politicians call for his resignation and as Gov. Kathy Hochul, a fellow Democrat, weighs whether to force him from office by invoking a never-before-used provision of the city's charter.

Correction: This story has been updated to correct the spelling of Magistrate Judge Katharine Parker's name.

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