New York Metropolis Mayor Eric Adams’ reelection marketing campaign booted an in depth adviser after she allegedly tried to bribe a journalist by slipping her some money in a potato chip bag.
Winnie Greco, the mayor’s former director of Asian affairs at Metropolis Corridor, had returned to the marketing campaign path as a volunteer throughout Adams’s ill-fated run for a second time period. She was already a lightning rod, with the FBI raiding her houses final 12 months as a part of a federal investigation into attainable Chinese language interference within the 2021 mayor’s race.
“We are shocked by these reports,” Adams’ marketing campaign spokesperson, Todd Shapiro, instructed the outlet. “Winnie Greco holds no position in this campaign and has been suspended from all volunteer campaign-related activities.”
Shapiro emphasised that Adams has “always demanded the highest ethical and legal standards.” However that assertion sounds odd, contemplating Adams is operating for reelection after 5 federal felony prices in opposition to him had been dismissed, and the truth that he left the Democratic Social gathering to run as an unbiased, understanding his bid for an additional time period was unsure.
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In the meantime, Greco’s lawyer, Steven Brill, said that the whole scenario was a cultural problem. He claimed it’s frequent in Chinese language custom to offer money to reporters as “a gesture of friendship and gratitude.”
“I grant you this looks odd,” Brill admitted, however he nonetheless insisted Greco’s intent was “purely innocent.” He said she was “apologetic and embarrassed” and that the gesture had been “misconstrued.”
Greco’s stunt threatens to deepen the scandal surrounding Adams and his troubled reelection bid. A number of associates are anticipated to face corruption prices within the coming days, in accordance with The New York Occasions, which cited 4 individuals aware of the matter. Ingrid Lewis-Martin, the mayor’s closest adviser and former chief of employees, was already accused on Thursday of accepting hundreds in bribes.
Honan instructed the Occasions that Greco texted her, asking to satisfy throughout the road by a financial institution. Considering she would obtain a tip concerning the pending indictments, Honan walked with Greco right into a Complete Meals, the place the adviser pressed the snack bag into her arms. Honan tried to refuse and even tried to return it. As soon as on the subway, she opened the bag and located a purple envelope crammed with money.
“I looked and I go, ‘Oh my God, it’s money,’” Honan stated, including she instantly referred to as Greco to attempt to return the money—at the very least one $100 invoice and several other $20 payments. In response, Greco instructed her that she had left the world and laughed concerning the trade.
The episode has sparked mockery, with critics mentioning that Adams and his interior circle appear unable to keep away from scandal. From FBI raids to federal indictments, the mayor is by some means at all times dogged by controversy. The chip-bag handoff was so clumsy it bordered on parody. Nonetheless, it highlighted a significant issue for Adams: He can’t appear to chop free from the very people who find themselves additional damaging his already fragile status.
Greco has been a fixture in Adams’ circle for greater than a decade, courting again to his days as Brooklyn borough president. In accordance with the Occasions, she was amongst a handful of mates with him in Occasions Sq. on the evening he was sworn in as mayor in 2022, and he or she stood alongside him at Metropolis Corridor when he launched his reelection marketing campaign.
She stepped down from his administration in October 2024, a part of a wave of exits following Adams’ federal corruption indictment, however reappeared this 12 months at marketing campaign occasions for the mayor.
When requested concerning the incident by The Metropolis, Greco described it as “cultural” and apologized repeatedly.
Too late. Now, with the chip-bag stunt making headlines, Greco has as soon as once more dragged Adams deeper into scandal. One other shady character tied to a shady mayor? No shock there.
