Queens Assemblywoman Jenifer Rajkumar is returning a donation her metropolis comptroller marketing campaign just lately obtained from a businessman indicted Thursday on bribery prices alongside Ingrid Lewis-Martin, Mayor Adams’ longtime confidante and former chief adviser at Metropolis Corridor.
Arvind Sooknanan, a spokesman for Rajkumar, confirmed late Thursday that the candidate will give again the $2,100 she acquired in August for her comptroller run from Raizada “Pinky” Vaid, certainly one of two actual property traders charged with bribing Lewis-Martin and her son in change for Lewis-Martin utilizing her authorities affect to expedite Buildings Division permits for his or her development initiatives.
Lewis-Martin resigned from her place final week.
Sooknanan mentioned Rajkumar, a outstanding Adams ally who usually seems with the mayor at public occasions, may also refund a $1,000 contribution Vaid gave her Meeting marketing campaign in October 2022.
Ingrid Lewis-Martin is escorted to her arraignment in handcuffs, left, and her son, Glenn Martin II, arrives on the Manhattan District Lawyer’s workplace on Thursday, Dec. 19, 2024. (Barry Williams / New York Day by day Information)
“Our campaign has no problem returning the contributions out of an abundance of caution,” mentioned Sooknanan, whose boss is operating in June’s Democratic comptroller main towards a number of candidates, together with Metropolis Councilman Justin Brannan and Manhattan Borough President Mark Levine.
Rajkumar isn’t the one native politician who has gotten money from Vaid and his enterprise companion, Mayank Dwivedi, who can also be alleged to have bribed Lewis-Martin and her son.
Based on state information, Vaid gave Gov. Hochul’s marketing campaign $2,500 in January 2022 and $1,000 to Assemblyman Mark Weprin’s 2024 marketing campaign in October. Spokespeople for Hochul and Weprin didn’t instantly return requests for remark late Thursday.
Dwivedi doesn’t have any report of creating political contributions on town authorities degree, however he pumped $10,000 into former Gov. Andrew Cuomo’s marketing campaign in October 2017, state filings present. A spokesman for Cuomo didn’t instantly return a request for remark, both.
In an indictment unsealed in Manhattan Legal Court docket, District Lawyer Alvin Bragg’s workplace alleged Vaid and Dwivedi gave Lewis-Martin and her son, Glenn Martin II, $100,000 in change for her authorities favors. The 2 businessmen additionally allegedly made commitments to put money into enterprise ventures floated by the youthful Martin, who’s knowledgeable DJ referred to as “Suave Luciano.”
All 4 pleaded not responsible to the fees.
Initially Printed: December 19, 2024 at 7:09 PM EST
