In an embarrassing moment for former New York City Mayor Eric Adams, his former aide was allegedly caught giving a potential bribe to a journalist—hidden in a potato chip bag. &nbsp;Winnie Greco, a former adviser and fundraiser for Eric Adams, was suspended from his re-election campaign on Wednesday (Aug 20). She claimed innocence, explaining it as a Chinese culture thing. Here's what happened:<h2>Winnie Greco allegedly gave cash in a red envelope</h2>According to reports, Greco handed The City reporter Katie Honan a red envelope hidden in a potato chip bag containing $100 and $20 bills.According to The City, both Greco and Honan were attending a campaign event in Harlem. Greco texted Honan asking to meet across the street and handed her the chip bag inside a Whole Foods store.Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/natos-procurement-agency-probed-for-corruption-in-military-purchases-9073685">NATO's procurement agency probed for corruption in military purchases</a>&nbsp;Honan initially declined, but Greco insisted. Upon opening the bag later at a subway stop, Honan discovered the cash and immediately called Greco to return it. Greco reportedly laughed and said she had already left the area.Honan handed the red envelope to her editors, who then contacted the Department of Investigation. Federal prosecutors later retrieved the chip bag and the money.<h2>Who is Winnie Greco, alraedy under probe over alleged China links?</h2>Greco is the same person who resigned from City Hall in October 2024, after the FBI raided her Bronx homes. These raids were linked to a wider federal investigation into possible Chinese government interference in the 2021 New York mayoral race, which Adams won. She is not charged, but the probe is going onAlso read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/nyc-mayor-eric-adams-denies-quid-pro-quo-with-trump-administration-to-drop-criminal-case-8722305">NYC Mayor Eric Adams denies 'quid pro quo' with Trump administration to drop criminal case</a>&nbsp;Greco had recently rejoined Adams’s campaign as a volunteer, despite ongoing concerns about her ties to China.<h2>‘Don’t make it news': Greco apologises, her lawyer says it's a culture thing</h2>Greco later apologised to The City, reportedly saying: “I feel so bad right now… Can we forget about this? Please don’t do in the news nothing about me.” She added it was a “culture thing.”Greco’s lawyer, Steven Brill, insisted it was ‘not a bag of cash’, saying that in Chinese culture, money is often given in a gesture of friendship and gratitude. Winnie’s intention was ‘born purely out of kindness,’ said the lawyer. &nbsp;He also said Greco knew the reporter and was fond of her.&nbsp;Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/-if-you-speak-up-zohran-mamdani-slams-trump-after-deportation-threat-has-this-to-say-about-ice-1751423001004">'If you speak up...': Zohran Mamdani slams Trump after 'deportation' threat, says THIS about ICE</a><h2>Adams was close to Greco</h2>Eric Adams is contesting the NYC mayoral race as an independent. Despite the China probe controversy, Adams kept Greco close until her resignation. She had been with him since his 2013 borough presidency. Greco stepped down during a wave of resignations following Adams’s federal corruption indictment, which was later dismissed by the Trump administration.<a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/new-york-eric-adams-to-contest-mayoral-election-as-independent-1751005367065/embed">https://www.wionews.com/videos/new-york-eric-adams-to-contest-mayoral-election-as-independent-1751005367065/embed</a><h2>Adams' campaign suspends Greco, says it's shocked&nbsp;</h2>Todd Shapiro, Adams’s campaign spokesperson, expressed shock, saying Mayor Adams had no prior knowledge of this matter. "He has always demanded the highest ethical and legal standards.”Shapiro said Greco had been suspended from all volunteer activities.&nbsp;

Greco is yet to be charged over alleged links to China but is under federal probe. She insisted that she knew the journalist, and the potato chip bag containing cash given to her was a gesture of affection, part of her Chinese culture

In an embarrassing moment for former New York City Mayor Eric Adams, his former aide was allegedly caught giving a potential bribe to a journalist—hidden in a potato chip bag. Winnie Greco, a former adviser and fundraiser for Eric Adams, was suspended from his re-election campaign on Wednesday (Aug 20). She claimed innocence, explaining it as a Chinese culture thing. Here's what happened: Winnie Greco allegedly gave cash in a red envelope According to reports, Greco handed The City reporter Katie Honan a red envelope hidden in a potato chip bag containing $100 and $20 bills. According to The City, both Greco and Honan were attending a campaign event in Harlem. Greco texted Honan asking to meet across the street and handed her the chip bag inside a Whole Foods store. Also read: NATO's procurement agency probed for corruption in military purchases Honan initially declined, but Greco insisted. Upon opening the bag later at a subway stop, Honan discovered the cash and immediately called Greco to return it. Greco reportedly laughed and said she had already left the area. Honan handed the red envelope to her editors, who then contacted the Department of Investigation. Federal prosecutors later retrieved the chip bag and the money. Who is Winnie Greco, alraedy under probe over alleged China links? Greco is the same person who resigned from City Hall in October 2024, after the FBI raided her Bronx homes. These raids were linked to a wider federal investigation into possible Chinese government interference in the 2021 New York mayoral race, which Adams won. She is not charged, but the probe is going on Also read: NYC Mayor Eric Adams denies 'quid pro quo' with Trump administration to drop criminal case Greco had recently rejoined Adams’s campaign as a volunteer, despite ongoing concerns about her ties to China. ‘Don’t make it news': Greco apologises, her lawyer says it's a culture thing Greco later apologised to The City, reportedly saying: “I feel so bad right now… Can we forget about this? Please don’t do in the news nothing about me.” She added it was a “culture thing.” Greco’s lawyer, Steven Brill, insisted it was ‘not a bag of cash’, saying that in Chinese culture, money is often given in a gesture of friendship and gratitude. Winnie’s intention was ‘born purely out of kindness,’ said the lawyer. He also said Greco knew the reporter and was fond of her. Also read: 'If you speak up...': Zohran Mamdani slams Trump after 'deportation' threat, says THIS about ICE Adams was close to Greco Eric Adams is contesting the NYC mayoral race as an independent. Despite the China probe controversy, Adams kept Greco close until her resignation. She had been with him since his 2013 borough presidency. Greco stepped down during a wave of resignations following Adams’s federal corruption indictment, which was later dismissed by the Trump administration. https://www.wionews.com/videos/new-york-eric-adams-to-contest-mayoral-election-as-independent-1751005367065/embed Adams' campaign suspends Greco, says it's shocked Todd Shapiro, Adams’s campaign spokesperson, expressed shock, saying Mayor Adams had no prior knowledge of this matter. "He has always demanded the highest ethical and legal standards.” Shapiro said Greco had been suspended from all volunteer activities.

Greco is yet to be charged over alleged links to China but is under federal probe. She insisted that she knew the journalist, and the potato chip bag containing cash given to her was a gesture of affection, part of her Chinese culture

Cheap bribe? Ex-New York Mayor Eric Adams' aide, already under probe over alleged China links, gave a journalist cash hidden in potato chip bag

Donald Trump has launched a scathing attack on Zohran Mamdani, the new Democratic frontrunner in New York City’s mayoral race, calling him a “communist nutjob” and warning New Yorkers that they would be “crazy” to elect him.Speaking ahead of a visit to a Florida immigration detention facility nicknamed “Alligator Alcatraz”, Trump was asked about Mamdani’s controversial remarks on the anti-Zionist slogan “globalise the intifada”.Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/doge-to-investigate-dogefather-trump-says-doge-monster-should-eat-musk-amid-row-over-one-big-beautiful-bill-1751373603423">DOGE to investigate 'Dogefather'? Trump says 'DOGE monster should eat Musk' amid row over 'One Big Beautiful Bill'</a>“Frankly, I’ve heard he’s a total nut job. We will have a communist in for the first time, really a pure, true communist. He wants to operate the grocery stores. The department stores. What about the people who are there? I think it’s crazy,” Trump said on Tuesday.<h2>Mamdani refuses to ‘police’ free speech</h2>The slogan in question is often used to express support for Palestinian resistance, but it has drawn criticism from Jewish groups who believe it could encourage violence. Mamdani told NBC’s Meet the Press that while the phrase was not language he would personally use, he said, “I don’t believe the role of the mayor is to police speech.” This refusal to denounce the slogan sparked Trump’s reaction.Mamdani, a 33-year-old Ugandan-born Muslim and son of filmmaker Mira Nair, caused a political earthquake last week when he defeated former New York Governor Andrew Cuomo in the Democratic mayoral primary. His win electrified progressives and drew thousands of younger voters through a campaign centred on high rent, inequality, and public services.But his past criticism of Israel and support for wealth redistribution have made him a target for Republicans, and especially for Trump. “I think he’s terrible. He’s a communist,” Trump said. He added, “And I think I’m gonna have a lot of fun watching him, because he has to come right through this building to get his money.”

Speaking ahead of a visit to a Florida immigration detention facility nicknamed “Alligator Alcatraz”, Trump was asked about Mamdani’s controversial remarks on the anti-Zionist slogan “globalise the intifada”.

Donald Trump has launched a scathing attack on Zohran Mamdani, the new Democratic frontrunner in New York City’s mayoral race, calling him a “communist nutjob” and warning New Yorkers that they would be “crazy” to elect him. Speaking ahead of a visit to a Florida immigration detention facility nicknamed “Alligator Alcatraz”, Trump was asked about Mamdani’s controversial remarks on the anti-Zionist slogan “globalise the intifada”. Also read: DOGE to investigate 'Dogefather'? Trump says 'DOGE monster should eat Musk' amid row over 'One Big Beautiful Bill' “Frankly, I’ve heard he’s a total nut job. We will have a communist in for the first time, really a pure, true communist. He wants to operate the grocery stores. The department stores. What about the people who are there? I think it’s crazy,” Trump said on Tuesday. Mamdani refuses to ‘police’ free speech The slogan in question is often used to express support for Palestinian resistance, but it has drawn criticism from Jewish groups who believe it could encourage violence. Mamdani told NBC’s Meet the Press that while the phrase was not language he would personally use, he said, “I don’t believe the role of the mayor is to police speech.” This refusal to denounce the slogan sparked Trump’s reaction. Mamdani, a 33-year-old Ugandan-born Muslim and son of filmmaker Mira Nair, caused a political earthquake last week when he defeated former New York Governor Andrew Cuomo in the Democratic mayoral primary. His win electrified progressives and drew thousands of younger voters through a campaign centred on high rent, inequality, and public services. But his past criticism of Israel and support for wealth redistribution have made him a target for Republicans, and especially for Trump. “I think he’s terrible. He’s a communist,” Trump said. He added, “And I think I’m gonna have a lot of fun watching him, because he has to come right through this building to get his money.”

Speaking ahead of a visit to a Florida immigration detention facility nicknamed “Alligator Alcatraz”, Trump was asked about Mamdani’s controversial remarks on the anti-Zionist slogan “globalise the intifada”.

‘Communist nutjob’: Trump slams NYC mayoral hopeful Zohran Mamdani over anti-Zionist slogan remarks

new-york-citys-mayoral-race

New York City’s Mayoral Race, News on New York City’s Mayoral Race, stories on New York City’s Mayoral Race, articles on New York City’s Mayoral Race, New York City’s Mayoral Race stories at Wion, New York City’s Mayoral Race news, New York City’s Mayoral Race latest news

new york-citys-mayoral-race

Cheap bribe? Ex-New York Mayor Eric Adams' aide, already under probe over alleged China links, gave a journalist cash hidden in potato chip bag

‘Communist nutjob’: Trump slams NYC mayoral hopeful Zohran Mamdani