Mayor Eric Adams’ Advisor Suspended After Attempting to Bribe a Reporter

The longtime ally and fundraiser of the New York City mayor was suspended from his re-election campaign after she was exposed for giving a journalist cash tucked into a potato chip bag.

Mayor Eric Adams' trusted advisor Winnie Greco has come under fire after allegedly attempting to bribe a reporter from The City following a campaign event in Harlem on Wednesday, August 20.

Greco previously served as Adams' director of Asian affairs before stepping down last year. Her resignation came after her name was linked to several corruption investigations. She recently returned to the political scene as a volunteer in Adams' bid for a second term.

The City's City Hall reporter Katie Honan spotted Greco shortly before the announcement of Adams' new campaign office in Harlem. Greco later texted Honan after the event and asked to meet across the street from the campaign office.

The pair walked to a Whole Foods, where Greco offered Honan a bag of sealed Herr's Sour Cream & Onion ripple potato chips. Honan declined the offer several times, according to The City, but Greco insisted.

Honan eventually relented and the two parted ways. Before entering a nearby subway station, the journalist opened the bag and discovered a red envelope stuffed with a $100 bill and several $20 bills.

Honan told The New York Times that she had expected information about the corruption charges facing several of Mayor Adams' associates. "I initially hoped it was a note, a tip, and then I looked and I go, 'Oh my God, it's money,'" she said.

She immediately called Greco to tell her she could not accept the money and asked if she was still nearby so she could return it. Greco replied she was no longer in the area. Honan later texted her: "I can't take this, when can I give it back to you?" but never received a response.

Later that afternoon, The City asked Greco what she intended when she handed Honan the reported bribe. The former liaison said she made a mistake and apologized profusely. "I make a mistake," she told The City.

"I'm so sorry. It's a culture thing. I don't know. I don't understand. I'm so sorry. I feel so bad right now. I'm so sorry, honey," she continued. Greco later called the publication back, begging that the incident not be reported.

"I just wanted to be her friend. I just wanted to have one good friend. It's nothing," she added. The City referred the matter to the Department of Investigation and was contacted by the Brooklyn U.S. attorney's office, which has been investigating Greco since early last year.