Adams campaign aide slips cash-stuffed bag of chips to journalist: Report

A campaign adviser to New York City Mayor Eric Adams attempted to pass money off to a journalist, nonprofit publication The City reported. Her attempt sparked inquiries from federal and city prosecutors, some of which were already investigating the Adams campaign operative. 

Adams aide Winnie Greco slipped an opened bag of Herr’s potato chips to Katie Honan, a reporter at The City, on Wednesday inside of a Whole Foods store following a campaign event in Harlem. The City said the bag contained a red envelope stuffed with cash, unbeknownst to Honan, who tried to decline the chips.

The reporter attempted to return the bag to Greco, but the aide left the area and suggested they meet in Chinatown. 

The publication, anticipating it could become evidence in an investigation, didn’t closely inspect the money, but saw a $100 and $20 bills. The publication reported it had contacted DOI about the cash bag. Federal prosecutors reached out to the newsroom’s lawyers and later retrieved the bag, cash and red envelope.

“I can’t take this, when can I give it back to you,” Honan asked Greco in a text, to no response. 

Greco later told The City her actions were a “mistake,” part of her culture and wanted to be Honan’s friend. She later advised the newsroom to contact Steven Brill, her attorney.  Brill said Greco’s actions are common in Chinese culture where people give money to others as a “gesture of friendship and gratitude.”

“Can we forget about this? I try to be a good person,” Greco told The City. “Please. Please. Please don’t do in the news nothing about me.”

Greco is suspended from Adams’ campaign, spokesperson Todd Shapiro told the publication, adding that the mayor had zero prior knowledge about Greco’s actions.

Adams’ reelection campaign team didn’t immediately respond to Straight Arrow News’ request for comment. Adams is seeking reelection in NYC’s attention-grabbing mayoral race that features former New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo, running as an independent, and Democratic nominee Zohran Mamdani.

Diane Struzzi, a spokesperson for New York City’s Department of Investigations, told Straight Arrow News that “DOI received allegations from The City and declines further comment.” 

Internet criticizes Adams’ administration

People reacted quickly online to news about the cash bag with jokes and criticism of the mayor’s leadership. Some of the reactions mounted to disbelief of Greco’s actions and Adams’ administration, which has been marred by corruption charges and federal inquiries.

Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg levied corruption-related charges Thursday against nine of Adams’ allies in City Hall, according to his office’s statement announcing the indictments. He alleged they illegally used their positions for personal benefit by accepting gifts, kickbacks and other means that he said victimized New Yorkers at the “highest levels of government.”

Bailey Carlin, founder of Bad Brain Digital Consulting, wrote on X that Adams “continues to be the funniest cartoon character villain of all-time.” 

Some users took a comical approach to the news.

“Just want to Lay out this word to the Wise: No ifs ands or Utz, this is crisply written and reported, but for all its saltiness it’s still just a story about small potatoes with no evidence of a chip pro quo, and no one should get too Ruffled up about it,” George Conway, a lawyer and founder of super PAC the Lincoln Project, wrote on X.