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Investigators have intensified their scrutiny of Mayor Eric Adams's inner circle, seizing the phones of Ingrid Lewis-Martin, the mayor's chief adviser, and conducting a search of her Brooklyn residence. Her lawyer, Arthur L. Aidala, confirmed these actions and mentioned that Lewis-Martin received a grand jury subpoena from the Southern District of New York. Aidala emphasized that his client intends to fully cooperate with the investigations and asserted that Lewis-Martin is not currently targeted in any specific case.

The development came after a dramatic encounter at Kennedy International Airport, where Lewis-Martin was met by investigators upon her return from a vacation in Japan. Multiple sources confirmed that both state and federal investigators engaged with her, serving the subpoena and confiscating her phone. This event coincided with Mayor Adams's own legal troubles, as he faced arraignment on federal charges of bribery and wire fraud in Lower Manhattan. Adams, accused of receiving illegal campaign donations and bribes in exchange for favors, pleaded not guilty to the charges.

Lewis-Martin has been a steadfast ally of Adams for around 40 years, often describing their relationship as akin to siblings ordained by fate. Her role in City Hall is well-known; she has been Adams's principal aide since managing his campaign for a State Senate seat in 2006. Known as Adams's political enforcer, Lewis-Martin has cultivated a reputation for her unyielding approach.

There are indications that the investigations involving Lewis-Martin may intersect with last year's indictment of Eric Ulrich, Adams's former senior adviser and buildings commissioner, who faces bribery charges. While Lewis-Martin is not named in Ulrich's indictment, she is referenced indirectly. The charges against Ulrich include accusations of benefiting co-defendants in exchange for bribes, and mention a "chief adviser" to Adams who engaged with the co-defendants, though the adviser is not accused of any wrongdoing.

Upon her confrontation at the airport, Lewis-Martin was permitted to contact her lawyer and relinquished her phone in response to a warrant. Simultaneously, federal investigators presented her with the grand jury subpoena related to the ongoing investigation into Mayor Adams. The situation marks a significant moment in the ongoing probes into the mayor's administration, drawing further attention to the political dynamics and legal challenges facing New York City's leadership.