A former top aide to Mayor Eric Adams \u2014 and current adviser to his reelection campaign \u2014 handed a Big Apple reporter a bag of potato chips stuffed with cash Wednesday, according to a report and sources.<\/p>\n
Winnie Greco\u00a0gave\u00a0the bag to Katie Honan, a reporter at The City, just steps away from Hizonner\u2019s new campaign office in Harlem, The Post confirmed.<\/p>\n
Neither Mayor Adams nor his reelection campaign are implicated in the incident.<\/p>\n
Winnie Greco, a top advisor for NYC Mayor Eric Adams, has been caught handing a CITY reporter a potato chip bag stuffed with cash. Corbis via Getty Images<\/p>\n
Greco, 62, ran into Honan outside the Harlem campaign office, and the reporter later received a text asking her to meet across the street at a nearby TD Bank, according to the report.<\/p>\n
Honan met Greco at the bank, then was brought to a nearby Whole Foods, where Greco handed her a\u00a0crumpled\u00a0bag of Herr\u2019s sour cream and onion rippled potato chips.<\/p>\n
Thinking she was being offered a snack, Honan told Greco more than once that she could not accept the chips, but Greco insisted, according to the report.<\/p>\n
After the two parted ways, Honan opened the bag and discovered a red envelope containing at least one $100 bill and several $20 bills, The City reported.<\/p>\n
The outlet referred to the exchange as a \u201cfailed payoff\u201d but Greco claimed that she \u201caccidentally\u201d handed the reporter the cash, according to sources.<\/p>\n
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In comments to The City on Wednesday evening, Greco apologized for the\u00a0supposed\u00a0mix-up.<\/p>\n
\u201cI make a mistake,\u201d she said. \u201cI\u2019m so sorry. It\u2019s a culture thing. I don\u2019t know. I don\u2019t know. I don\u2019t understand. I\u2019m so sorry. I feel so bad right now. I\u2019m so sorry honey,\u201d Greco told The City.<\/p>\n
After an initial interview with the outlet, Greco called back with an attorney present, the report stated.<\/p>\n
Greco was extremely apologetic when confronted about the incident, stating \u201cI make a mistake\u2026 I\u2019m so sorry\u201d James Keivom<\/p>\n
\u201cCan we forget about this? I try to be a good person. Please. Please. Please don\u2019t do in the news nothing about me.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI just wanted to be her friend,\u201d Greco said, adding, \u201cI just wanted to have one good friend. It\u2019s nothing,\u201d she told the outlet.<\/p>\n
Attorney Steven Brill further claimed that Greco was \u201cpurely innocent\u201d and chalked the incident up to a misunderstanding based on cultural differences.<\/p>\n
New York City Mayor Eric Adams, joined by former Governor David Paterson and community leaders, takes part in a ribbon-cutting ceremony to open his Manhattan campaign headquarters in Harlem on Wednesday, August 20, 2025, in New York. James Keivom<\/p>\n
\u201cI can see how this looks strange,\u201d Brill told The City. \u201cBut I assure you that Winnie\u2019s intent was purely innocent. In the Chinese culture, money is often given to others in a gesture of friendship and gratitude.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWinnie is apologetic and embarrassed by any negative impression or confusion that may have caused,\u201d Brill concluded.<\/p>\n
Greco\u2019s volunteer status with the mayor\u2019s reelection bid was immediately suspended, the campaign told The Post.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe are shocked by these reports. Winnie Greco holds no position in this campaign and has been suspended from all VOLUNTEER campaign-related activities. Mayor Adams had no prior knowledge of this matter,\u201d spokesperson Todd Shapiro said.<\/p>\n
Greco, 62, former Asian Affairs advisor for Mayor Eric Adams attends the reopening of Sands of Persia cocktail and hookah bar in Astoria, Queens, Sunday, June 22, 2025. David Burns\/@FD4D<\/p>\n
\u201cHe has always demanded the highest ethical and legal standards, and his sole focus remains on serving the people of New York City with integrity.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe are shocked by these reports,\u201d he added. <\/p>\n
The City reported the incident to the Department of Investigation.<\/p>\n
\u201cDOI received allegations from The City and declines further comment,\u201d agency spokesperson Diane Struzzi told the outlet.<\/p>\n
Adams and Greco participate in the 31st Hong Kong Dragon Boat Festival in New York (HKDBF-NY) at Flushing Meadows Corona Park in the Queens borough of New York City. ZUMAPRESS.com<\/p>\n
Greco, a former Asian Affairs adviser under Adams,\u00a0resigned in October 2024<\/a>, with speculation swirling that the one-time trusted aide could be indicted by the feds.<\/p>\n Her\u00a0Bronx home was raided<\/a>\u00a0in February of that year after she faced a probe by the city\u2019s Department of Investigation over allegations she improperly used her position to get perks.<\/p>\n Since the high-profile investigations, Greco had seemed to\u00a0disappear from New York City<\/a>\u00a0for several months but became a constant presence on the campaign in recent weeks, The City reported.<\/p>\n