A recent report indicates that Winnie Greco, a former key aide to Mayor Eric Adams, handed a bag filled with cash to a city reporter on Wednesday—hidden inside a packet of potato chips.
Greco reportedly met Katie Honan outside the Harlem Campaign office and promptly gave her the unusual gift.
As of now, both Mayor Adams and his campaign have stated they had no involvement in this alleged incident.
Greco, who is 62, encountered Honan outside the campaign office, and shortly after, reporters received a text urging them to meet across the street at a local bank.
When Honan arrived at the TD Bank, she was then taken to a nearby Whole Foods store where Greco presented her with a sturdy bag of sour cream and onion rippled chips.
According to the report, Honan repeatedly insisted that she couldn’t accept the apparent “snacks.” However, after their farewells, she opened the bag to find a red envelope containing at least $100 and a $20 bill.
While some called the exchange “in return for failings,” Greco maintains she was simply giving cash to reporters, as sources suggested.
Later that evening, Greco expressed remorse for the misunderstanding to city officials.
“I’m going to make a mistake,” she said. “Sorry. It’s about culture. I don’t know… I feel really bad right now,” she added.
After her initial discussion with reporters, she also sought legal representation, as the report noted.
In light of the incident, Greco apologized profusely, pleading, “Can you forget this? I’m just trying to be a good person. Please don’t take action against me.” She added, “I just wanted to be her friend.”
Following the incident, her position was quickly suspended, according to the campaign’s statement.
Spokesman Todd Shapiro emphasized their shock at the reports, clarifying, “Winnie Greco does not hold a position in this campaign and has been suspended. Mayor Adams had no prior knowledge of this situation.” He further stated that the mayor expects the highest ethical standards while serving the people of New York City.
Greco, who previously held a prominent advisory role, resigned in October 2024 amid speculation that she could face federal charges. Notably, her home in the Bronx was attacked in February, as she was also under investigation by the city’s Department of Investigation for potentially misusing her position.
