Former top aide Ingrid Lewis-Martin spoke to media on Monday alongside her lawyer to say they expect an indictment from the Manhattan district attorney's office this week.
“I’m being falsely accused of something. I don’t know exactly what it is, but I know I was told it's something illegal. And I have never done anything illegal in my capacity in government," she said, proclaiming her innocence amid the impending indictment.
Arthur Aidala, Lewis-Martin’s lawyer, said he believes the charges will allege that Lewis-Martin received illegal gifts.
“I have never taken any gifts, money, anything. I have not made any arrangements in advance to take any gifts or money or to have any gifts or money given to a family member or friend in order for me to do my job,” Lewis-Martin said.
Lewis-Martin’s phones were seized by the Manhattan district attorney's office in September, along with a search warrant executed at her home.
Aidala said they got wind of a grand jury proceeding against Lewis-Martin last week, leading him to attempt to broker a meeting with prosecutors to try to explain some discrepancies but was denied.
“It’s so disheartening that they didn’t let us come in and try [to] explain this to them so that they could see the light that the way they’re connecting the dots is just not the truth,” Aidala said. “We’re privy to some text messages and some emails that are easily explained away about what they mean.”
Aidala added that Lewis-Martin had planned to testify before the grand jury on Monday but ultimately decided against it.
“The process there is very skewed against the criminal defendant. There is no judge in the grand jury. Her lawyer cannot say anything. It's just Ingrid there all alone. There’s no rehabilitation of a witness if they misstate something, so it's a tremendous risk and we just didn’t think we would get a fair shake," Aidala said.
Following the lead of President-elect Donald Trump and Mayor Eric Adams, Aidala claimed the justice system has become politicized.
“It tells us that clearly this is what the Manhattan district attorney’s office wanted. They wanted a press conference, they wanted headlines. And sadly, that’s because politics has really infiltrated the justice system," Aidala continued.
A longtime confidante to Adams, Lewis-Martin announced her departure from the administration on Sunday.
The mayor had these words of encouragement for his former top adviser later in the day, “She not only has been constantly by my side throughout this entire journey, she’s not only a friend but she’s my sister, and I love her so much. I just really ask God to give her strength in the days to come.”
Lewis-Martin denied reports that there is a rift between her and Adams.
According to Aidala, Lewis-Martin left the administration to focus on the impending case.