Eric Adams associates indicted for pay-to-play scheme day after potato chip scandal

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A day after an area information outlet uncovered an Eric Adams aide for handing a reporter a wad of cash stuffed inside a bag of potato chips, a handful of oldsters from Adams' inside circle, together with one among his former high advisers, have been indicted in their very own alleged bribery scandal.

The Manhattan District Lawyer's Workplace introduced 4 new indictments Thursday, alleging a pay-to-play scheme and different fees towards a number of Adams' associates, together with one among his former chief advisers and her son, native enterprise homeowners, and two of Adams' reported political donors.

In the meantime, in mild of the information, Adams' opponent within the upcoming race for New York City mayor, Andrew Cuomo, took a jab at Adams' Thursday when he handed out baggage of chips to reporters at a press convention. "Typically a bag of chips is only a bag of chips," Cuomo informed these in attendance.

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"Frankly it's embarrassing for the Metropolis of New York," Cuomo, who himself is not any stranger to scandals, added Thursday.

New York Metropolis Mayor Eric Adams and former New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo (Left: Picture by Andrea Renault/Star Max/GC Picture, Proper: Picture by Alex Kent/Getty Photos)

The recent corruption-related allegations observe an incident Wednesday, when, based on native New York Metropolis paper The Metropolis, one among Adams' aides, who has since been suspended, allegedly tried to present cash to one among their reporters hidden inside a bag of potato chips. The now-suspended Adams adviser, Winnie Greco, later known as the transfer a "mistake," based on The Metropolis.

In the meantime, the indictments levied Thursday alleged a former chief adviser to Adams, Ingrid Lewis-Martin, who resigned in 2024 amid different accusations associated to a distinct pay-to-play scheme, acquired $75,000 in bribes between March 2022 and November 2024.

Among the many bribes was a $50,000 money cost "diverted from a Metropolis contract and different advantages" that was directed to her son's checking account, based on the Manhattan District Lawyer's Workplace. Different allegations specified by the indictments embody improper steering of government contracts and coverage choices that had been spurred by financial incentives.

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"We allege that Ingrid Lewis-Martin engaged in basic bribery conspiracies that had a deep and wide-ranging affect on Metropolis authorities," mentioned District Lawyer Alvin Bragg . "As alleged, Lewis-Martin persistently overrode the experience of public servants so she may line her personal pockets."

<source media="(min-width: 768px) and (max-width: 1023px)" srcset="https://a57.foxnews.com/static.foxnews.com/foxnews.com/content/uploads/2025/08/672/378/eric-adams-ingrid-lewis-new-york-city-corruption-bribery.jpeg?ve=1&tl=1, https://a57.foxnews.com/static.foxnews.com/foxnews.com/content/uploads/2025/08/1344/756/eric-adams-ingrid-lewis-new-york-city-corruption-bribery.jpeg?ve=1&tl=1 2x" height="378" width="672"><source media="(min-width: 1024px) and (max-width: 1279px)" srcset="https://a57.foxnews.com/static.foxnews.com/foxnews.com/content/uploads/2025/08/931/523/eric-adams-ingrid-lewis-new-york-city-corruption-bribery.jpeg?ve=1&tl=1, https://a57.foxnews.com/static.foxnews.com/foxnews.com/content/uploads/2025/08/1862/1046/eric-adams-ingrid-lewis-new-york-city-corruption-bribery.jpeg?ve=1&tl=1 2x" height="523" width="931"> Former chief adviser to Mayor of New York Metropolis Eric Adams, Ingrid Lewis-Martin, arrives for her arraignment on bribery fees at State Supreme Court docket in New York Metropolis on Dec. 19, 2024. (ANGELA WEISS/AFP by way of Getty Photos)

On Thursday, following information of the indictments, an Adams' spokesperson, Todd Shapiro, contended that the mayor "has not been accused of any wrongdoing."

"Whereas Ingrid Lewis-Martin now not works for this administration, she has been a buddy and colleague of the mayor for over 40 years, and he is aware of her as a loyal public servant; she has declared her innocence, and his prayers are together with her and her household," Shapiro added. "Mayor Adams additionally acknowledges that Jesse Hamilton has pleaded not responsible, and like anybody accused, he's entitled to the presumption of innocence. His dedication to New Yorkers is unwavering—no distraction will ever take his eyes off the ball or his dedication to this nice metropolis all of us name dwelling."

Regardless of Shapiro's claims that Adams' was not concerned, the mayor's opponents in his upcoming race to maintain his place have capitalized on the incident.

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"Whereas New Yorkers wrestle to afford the costliest metropolis in America, Eric Adams and his administration are too busy tripping over corruption fees to come back to their protection," the Democratic Occasion candidate for New York Metropolis Mayor, self-described socialist Zohran Mamdani, mentioned Thursday.

"Corruption is not nearly what a politician beneficial properties, it is about what the general public loses. And proper now, New Yorkers are paying the worth as one other flurry of indictments proceed to erode their belief in our democracy and distract from the affordability disaster that calls for motion and urgency."

New York Metropolis mayoral candidates Zohran Mamdani, Eric Adams, Andrew Cuomo, Curtis Sliwa. (Getty Photos)

In the meantime, Cuomo, who has not been the topic of any main bribery scandals himself, did resign from his place as governor amid quite a few sexual assault allegations in 2021. He known as the newest incidents involving Adams and his confidants "unhappy," "embarrassing," and "miserable."

"We had been speaking about how folks really feel pissed off with authorities, and alienated from authorities, and that authorities is not working for them. After which, there appears to be this endless collection of g overnment corruption that simply continues," Cuomo mentioned Thursday. "And it is unhappy, it is embarrassing, it is miserable. And then you definitely surprise why folks do not consider in authorities."