Cash Gift or Ethical Minefield? Greco's Gesture Sparks Investigation

A former senior advisor to New York City Mayor Eric Adams has come under scrutiny after allegedly attempting to deliver a bag of cash to a reporter from THE CITY following a campaign event in Harlem on August 20, 2025. The incident involved Winnie Greco, a longtime ally of Adams, who was previously employed as the mayor’s liaison to the Asian community before resigning last year amid multiple investigations.

According to reports, Greco approached reporter Katie Honan at a campaign office opening event and later handed her an opened bag of Herr’s chips containing a red envelope stuffed with cash, including at least one $100 bill and multiple $20 bills. Honan discovered the envelope after leaving the store and attempted to contact Greco to return the money, but the aide had already left the area. Greco later apologized, claiming the gesture was a “mistake” and attributed it to cultural norms of gift-giving in Chinese communities. Her attorney, Steven Brill, defended her actions as “purely innocent,” asserting that the gesture was meant as a friendly offering and not a bribe [1].

The Adams campaign responded swiftly, suspending Greco from all campaign-related activities, including volunteer roles. Spokesperson Todd Shapiro emphasized that the mayor had no prior knowledge of the incident and reaffirmed his commitment to ethical governance. The reporter subsequently returned the unopened envelope to THE CITY, which then informed the city Department of Investigation (DOI). While the DOI declined to comment on the allegations, federal prosecutors from the office of Brooklyn U.S. Attorney Joseph Nocella later retrieved the evidence for further examination [1].

Greco has long been a central figure in Adams’ political career, assisting in fundraising efforts and facilitating connections within the Chinese-American community. Her role included organizing international campaign events and managing donor networks. However, her activities have been repeatedly scrutinized in the past, including allegations of pressuring a campaign volunteer to perform personal tasks in exchange for city employment and demands for cash contributions to her nonprofit projects. These claims were previously reported by THE CITY and prompted an FBI raid on her properties in February 2024 [1].

The incident adds to a broader pattern of controversy surrounding Greco’s tenure, which included allegations of misuse of city resources, such as residing in a government-funded hotel room under a contract for formerly incarcerated individuals. While the mayor’s office and hotel representatives claimed she paid for her stay, no evidence was provided. Greco’s salary increased significantly after her return to City Hall following a brief medical leave, before she ultimately resigned from her position in October 2024 [1].

The unfolding investigation highlights ongoing concerns about potential improprieties in city campaign finance and ethics, particularly in relation to small-donor matching programs. The incident underscores the need for heightened scrutiny of political fundraising practices and the enforcement of existing campaign finance laws.

Source: [1] Eric Adams Advisor Winnie Greco Handed a CITY (https://www.thecity.nyc/2025/08/20/winnie-greco-eric-adams-aide-attempted-cash-katie-honan-reporter)