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Ingrid Lewis-Martin

Ingrid Lewis-Martin
Chief Advisor to the
Mayor of New York City
In office
January 10, 2022 – December 15, 2024
MayorEric Adams
Preceded byposition established
Deputy Borough President
of Brooklyn
In office
September 1, 2019 – December 31, 2021
Borough PresidentEric Adams
Preceded byDiana Reyna
Succeeded byDiana Richardson
Personal details
Born (1961-02-28) February 28, 1961 (age 63)
Brooklyn, New York, U.S.
Political partyDemocratic
SpouseGlenn D. Martin
EducationJohn Jay College of Criminal Justice (BA)

Ingrid P. Lewis-Martin (born February 28, 1961) is an American chaplain and political advisor.[1][2][3] She served as chief advisor to Mayor of New York City Eric Adams from January 2022[4] until December 2024.[5] Sometimes called "The Lioness of City Hall", Lewis-Martin is a longtime ally of Adams.

Early life and career

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Lewis-Martin was born in Brooklyn and raised in the Bed-Stuy and Crown Heights neighborhoods, her father immigrated from Barbados and her mother was born in New York City but grew up in Panama.[6] She graduated from John Jay High School and attended SUNY Old Westbury before transferring to John Jay College, studying criminal justice.[7] She is a member of Alpha Kappa Alpha.[8]

Lewis-Martin previously worked as a public school teacher and as an instructor at Medgar Evers College. She got her start in politics volunteering for U.S. Representative Major Owens, then served as his deputy campaign manager. She would go on to serve as chief of staff in the New York State Senate for Adams.[8]

Chief Advisor to the Mayor

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Lewis-Martin (far-right) appears with Mayor Eric Adams (center-left) and Police Commissioner Edward Caban (center background) for the pilot of a weapons detector program on the subway in 2024.

Lewis-Martin has served as chief advisor to Adams since 2022. In 2023, she was charged with a $1,000 fine for abusing her position to financially benefit an aide who owed her money.[4]

Lewis-Martin abruptly resigned from the position on December 15, 2024.[5]

Investigations

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On September 27, 2024, in the midst of the investigations into the Eric Adams administration, federal investigators searched Lewis-Martin's home, then seized her phones and served her with a grand jury subpoena on arrival at JFK Airport. Lewis-Martin was returning from a vacation in Japan alongside Jesse Hamilton and Adam Clayton Powell IV.[9] A search warrant published by the Manhattan District Attorney's Office stated that they were investigating five charges, including: bribery, falsifying business records, offering a false instrument for filing, and money laundering.[10]

On December 15, 2024, Lewis-Martin announced her abrupt resignation reportedly due to a forthcoming indictment after prosecutors from the Manhattan District Attorney's Office presented evidence of misconduct to a grand jury.[11][5] Lewis-Martin's lawyer Arthur Aidala said the expected criminal charges related to alleged improper gifts, he characterized the case as politically motivated and she claimed she was being falsely accused.[12]

On December 19, 2024, indictments against Lewis-Martin and her son were announced.[13] [14] [15]

Personal life

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Lewis-Martin is married to Glenn D. Martin, a police officer who trained with Eric Adams. A Pentecostal, Lewis-Martin is an ordained chaplain. She lives in the East Flatbush neighborhood of Brooklyn. Lewis-Martin is a member of the Order of the Eastern Star.[8]

References

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  1. ^ Rosenthal, Brian M.; Mays, Jeffery C. (June 18, 2023). "The 'Fiercely Loyal' Adams Adviser Agitating From Inside City Hall". The New York Times.
  2. ^ "The Most Powerful New Yorkers You've Never Heard Of". Intelligencer. October 23, 2023.
  3. ^ Anuta, Joe (10 May 2023). "Top New York City Hall aide worked quietly with state super PAC". Politico.
  4. ^ a b Sommerfeldt, Chris (January 5, 2023). "Top Adams adviser Ingrid Lewis-Martin fined $1,000 for misusing her post to financially benefit aide". New York Daily News.
  5. ^ a b c Rashbaum, William; Rubinstein, Dana; Fitzsimmons, Emma; Marcius, Chelsia Rose (December 15, 2024). "Grand Jury Said to Hear Evidence Against Chief Adviser to Mayor Adams". The New York Times. Retrieved December 17, 2024.
  6. ^ Shapiro, Todd (April 9, 2023). "A Front Seat to NYC's Rebirth: Mayor Eric Adams Top Aide Ingrid Lewis-Martin Helps Navigate Rough Seas". Dan's Papers. Retrieved September 27, 2024.
  7. ^ Victoria Schneps (February 18, 2019). "Power Women with Victoria Schneps: Ingrid Lewis-Martin" (Podcast). Schneps Media. Retrieved October 11, 2024.
  8. ^ a b c Brendlen, Kirstyn (February 16, 2022). "Ingrid Lewis-Martin represents Brooklyn's best as Adams' chief advisor". Brooklyn Paper. Retrieved October 5, 2024.
  9. ^ Rashbaum, William; Rubinstein, Dana; Mays, Jeffery (September 27, 2024). "Agents Seize Phones From Adams's Top Adviser and Subpoena Her". The New York Times. Retrieved September 27, 2024.
  10. ^ Gross, Courtney (October 10, 2024). "Manhattan DA probes bribery within Adams administration". NY1. Retrieved October 11, 2024.
  11. ^ Coltin, Jeff (December 15, 2024). "Ingrid Lewis-Martin, Eric Adams' top and longest-serving aide, resigns". Politico. Retrieved December 17, 2024.
  12. ^ Izaguirre, Anthony; Offenhartz, Jake (December 16, 2024). "Ingrid Lewis-Martin, chief adviser to NYC Mayor Eric Adams, resigns and expects to be indicted". Associated Press. Retrieved December 17, 2024.
  13. ^ Rashbaum, William K.; Rothfeld, Michael; Rubinstein, Dana (2024-12-19). "Ingrid Lewis-Martin and Her Son Are Charged in Corruption Case". The New York Times. Archived from the original on 2024-12-19. Retrieved 2024-12-20.
  14. ^ Helmore, Edward (2024-12-19). "Former chief adviser to Eric Adams indicted in $100,000 bribery scheme". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 2024-12-20.
  15. ^ "Former top aide to New York Mayor Eric Adams accused of bribery, money laundering". NBC News. 2024-12-19. Retrieved 2024-12-20.
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