Two former advisers to New York City Mayor Eric Adams have recently been embroiled in serious bribery allegations, casting a shadow over the mayor’s administration and re-election campaign. The accusations involve separate and distinct schemes, with each adviser implicated in controversial activities attracting significant media and legal scrutiny.
At the center of the scandal is Ingrid Lewis-Martin, Adams’s former chief adviser, who was formally indicted by Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg. Prosecutors allege that Lewis-Martin accepted more than $75,000 in bribes over a broad timeline from March 2022 through November 2024 while serving in her advisory role. The indictment charges her with multiple counts of conspiracy and bribery, alongside eight co-defendants, including her own son. This marks a continuation of a legal saga, as both Lewis-Martin and her son were previously indicted on related charges, to which they pleaded not guilty. Despite these accusations, Lewis-Martin remained involved in the mayor’s re-election effort briefly, albeit as an unpaid volunteer adviser, until the indictment’s public announcement.
Adding to the turmoil is Winnie Greco, another longtime adviser to Adams who resigned last October amid FBI scrutiny. Greco recently made headlines after allegedly handing a reporter a potato chip bag containing cash, an incident occurring shortly after an Adams campaign event. While Greco’s attorney dismissed the gesture as a culturally rooted expression of friendship and goodwill rather than a bribe, the episode raised concerns about ethical boundaries and campaign conduct. Greco herself apologized for the incident, describing it as a cultural misunderstanding and expressing regret for the discomfort caused.
In response, Adams’s campaign swiftly distanced itself from Greco’s actions, suspending her from volunteer work and asserting that the mayor had no prior knowledge of the incident. Despite stepping down from her official role months earlier, Greco maintained a visible presence at campaign events as a prominent liaison to New York’s Chinese American community and a notable fundraiser within that demographic.
These developments occur amid ongoing federal investigations into Adams and his close associates. Last year’s broader inquiry unveiled allegations involving illegal campaign contributions and unethical favors linked to foreign officials. Although charges against Adams were dismissed earlier in 2025 due to prosecutorial interference concerns, the continuing legal challenges faced by his former aides emphasize the persistent scrutiny facing the mayor’s circle.
Together, these bribery allegations and cultural controversies surrounding Lewis-Martin and Greco threaten to erode public confidence in Adams’s administration and re-election efforts. They underscore the complexities of political operations in a city grappling with demands for transparency, ethical governance, and cultural sensitivity. As the legal processes unfold, the mayor’s campaign remains focused on maintaining its commitment to integrity and service to New Yorkers amid a challenging political landscape.
