NEW YORK MINUTE: Another aide to Mayor Eric Adams had their home raided by federal agents today. Ingrid Lewis-Martin, Eric Adams’ closest confidant in City Hall and senior adviser, saw her home raided by the FBI earlier today, where federal agents seized personal devices, her attorney confirmed to POLITICO. Lewis-Martin returned from a vacation in Japan today, a trip she embarked on prior to Adams’ indictment. City Hall did not immediately comment. And messages left with Lewis-Martin were not returned. JUST CHECKING: Gov. Kathy Hochul’s office has been reviewing the rarely used power that would allow her to remove Adams. But our sources don’t expect her to use it. “I think the governor will let him have his day in court,” former Gov. David Paterson told Playbook. Lawyers in Hochul’s office on Thursday internally discussed the legal and constitutional framework for removing an elected official, according to two people familiar with the conversations who were granted anonymity due to the sensitive nature of the talks. The discussions were not an indication that Hochul is planning to remove Adams, but are being viewed internally as a way of keeping the governor’s options open. “Of course the counsel's office would be prepared to present to the governor on any possible legal scenario related to this matter,” Cuomo spokesperson Avi Small said. “But as the governor has made clear, she is reviewing the details made public this morning and it would be inappropriate to make any further comment at this time.” Hochul, who has long maintained a close working relationship with Adams, said after an event in the Syracuse area Thursday morning that the charges appeared to be a “very serious matter.” In a separate statement released later Thursday evening, Hochul called the indictment “the latest in a disturbing pattern of events” and notably did not offer support for the mayor. “New Yorkers deserve to know that their municipal government is working effectively, ethically and in the best interests of the people — driving down crime, educating our kids and ensuring basic city services continue unabated,” she said. “It's now up to Mayor Adams to show the City that he is able to lead in that manner.” Governors need to give officials they seek to remove a chance to defend themselves. Before taking the formal step of removing a mayor, they can suspend them for a month while considering charges. But the power otherwise appears to be absolute. Franklin Roosevelt, the last governor to make significant use of it, declared he would be both the judge and jury in such cases. Roosevelt’s most famous use of the power involved former New York City Mayor Jimmy Walker, whose bank accounts had large infusions of money from city contractors. “The evidence against Walker was in a report by a special prosecutor,” said Tammany historian Terry Golway. “The scenario that faces Hochul is worse than the scenario that faced FDR, because this was an indictment.” The governor’s powers to remove officials are rarely used. At least three borough presidents were kicked out of office in the early 20th century, though the most recent removal was FDR’s ouster of Manhattan Sheriff Thomas “Tin Box” Farley in 1932. Requests for the governor to utilize the power have come up practically every year in recent history. They often end with the officials in question resigning before charges are filed. But several recent governors have made clear that the option still exists. “Technically, the governor could remove a mayor,” Andrew Cuomo occasionally reminded people when he feuded with Adams predecessor Bill de Blasio. — Nick Reisman and Bill Mahoney | 
