Don’t make her sour.
Trying to give away $300 hidden inside a crumpled bag of sour cream and onion potato chips might seem, I don’t know, “very rare” for a campaign, right?
Greco’s attorney, Steve Brill, argued that former Mayor Eric Adams and his campaign volunteers meant well when they handed out these bags of chips, which contained cash-filled red envelopes.
“She has good intentions. Her heart’s in the right place,” Brill stated. “In hindsight, though, she acknowledges it was not the best judgment. Her intentions were innocent.”
The political rival of the mayor fired back on Thursday, claiming that his reelection campaign was “unfeasible.” It’s kind of a messy situation.
Greco stepped down as the director of Asian Community Affairs for Adams back in October after facing multiple investigations. She’s been under scrutiny for her ties to the Chinese community for some time now.
Neither Adams nor his campaign has anything to do with what’s being termed the “Chip Saga.” Campaign spokesperson Todd Shapiro mentioned that Greco’s volunteer status has been suspended due to the ongoing campaign.
Her lawyer, Brill, insisted she was just trying to help out a friend. City Hall reporter Katie Honan was someone she knew, and when she handed over the chips, it was meant to be a casual gesture.
“Winnie likes her. She saw her as a friend,” Brill said. “To her, it was just giving money to a friend.”
In a twist, Honan initially declined what she thought was a mere snack, but Greco insisted she’d take the bag. It seemed harmless enough, or maybe not.
Brill decried the accusations of any kind of “Quid Pro Quo” as “absolutely ridiculous.” He added that neither federal agents nor the city’s Bureau of Investigation had reached out to him or his client concerning the situation.
A spokesperson for the DOI confirmed the incident was logged, and sources indicated an investigation is ongoing.
Former Governor Andrew Cuomo took a jab at Adams on Thursday, suggesting that the mayor’s candidacy is “not viable.” At a press conference, he even handed out a bag of potato chips himself, remarking that “A bag of potato chips can be just that.”
Cuomo further expressed, “Frankly, that’s embarrassing for New York City. It’s sad for the city.”
When asked if Adams should step down, Cuomo replied, “That’s his call. I don’t find him to be viable.”
He remarked on the ongoing pattern of corrupt activities, hinting at cronyism and suggesting it grants special access to government for donors.
Meanwhile, Republican mayoral candidate Curtis Sliwa also got involved. He shared a meme on X, humorously depicting Adams offering a sack of chips stuffed with cash.
“Winnie Greco, if I give you this, I’ll go from 6% to 7% in the polls,” the comic claimed.
