Nothing says “totally normal political behavior” like handing a reporter a bag of potato chips stuffed with cash. But that’s exactly what Winnie Greco — former top aide to New York City Mayor Eric Adams and current “volunteer” for his re-election campaign — allegedly did this week, according to multiple sources and a report from the New York Post. Because nothing screams “innocent mix-up” quite like slipping someone a $100 bill inside a bag of Herr’s sour cream and onion chips.
Here’s how this bizarre political theater went down. Greco, age 62 and already under scrutiny from a previous corruption probe, approached Katie Honan, a reporter for The City, just outside Adams’s new Harlem campaign office. Later, she asked Honan to meet her near a TD Bank. Seems innocent enough, right? From there, they strolled to a nearby Whole Foods, where Greco handed Honan a crumpled snack bag — not exactly campaign literature.
Honan, thinking it was a casual snack offer, declined. But Greco insisted. And when Honan eventually opened the bag, surprise — no chips, just a red envelope packed with at least one $100 bill and several $20s. Because, obviously, when you’re friends with a reporter, the natural way to express gratitude is to shove cash into junk food.
The City called it what it looked like: a failed payoff. Greco, for her part, is denying the whole thing was an attempt to buy influence. Instead, she claims it was a cultural misunderstanding. “I make a mistake,” she said. “It’s a culture thing. I don’t understand.” Then came the classic damage control: “Please. Please. Please don’t do in the news nothing about me.”
Unfortunately for Greco, The City isn’t in the business of hush money. They ran the story, and now the Adams campaign is doing everything it can to distance itself from the mess. A campaign spokesperson stated Greco holds no official position and has been suspended from volunteer activities. Of course, this is the same Greco whose Bronx home was raided in early 2024 over allegations she used her role as Adams’s Asian affairs adviser for personal perks.
Funny how she quietly reemerged in the campaign, only to fumble what looked an awful lot like a bribe. But sure, let’s call it “friendship.”
Welcome to New York City politics — where the chips are never just chips.
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