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A “Cultural Mistake” Excuse
When the scheme was exposed, Greco quickly backtracked. She admitted the handoff but claimed it was an accident.
“I make a mistake,” she said. “I’m so sorry. It’s a culture thing. I don’t know. I don’t know. I don’t understand. I’m so sorry. I feel so bad right now. I’m so sorry, honey.”
Greco even pleaded with The City to bury the story: “Can we forget about this? I try to be a good person. Please. Please. Please don’t do in the news nothing about me.”
Her attorney, Steven Brill, doubled down on the cultural defense, insisting she was “purely innocent.” He told The City: “In the Chinese culture, money is often given to others in a gesture of friendship and gratitude.”
Campaign Scrambles to Distance Itself
Mayor Adams’ re-election campaign wasted no time suspending Greco from all campaign activities, stressing that she was only a volunteer and had no formal role.
Campaign spokesperson Todd Shapiro said: “We are shocked by these reports. Winnie Greco holds no position in this campaign and has been suspended from all VOLUNTEER campaign-related activities. Mayor Adams had no prior knowledge of this matter. He has always demanded the highest ethical and legal standards, and his sole focus remains on serving the people of New York City with integrity.”
Not Greco’s First Scandal
This isn’t the first time Greco has landed in legal hot water. Earlier this year, her Bronx home was raided by the city’s Department of Investigation, which accused her of using her political connections for personal perks while serving as Adams’ adviser on Asian affairs. After that raid, Greco seemed to vanish from the political scene — until recently reappearing as part of Adams’ campaign efforts.
Now, with cash in a chip bag, her comeback has turned into yet another embarrassing headline for the embattled mayor.
A Growing Pattern of Corruption?
While Adams has not been implicated, the scandal raises serious questions about the culture around his inner circle. If this was truly just an “innocent” cultural gift, why stuff the bills into a crumpled bag of chips and hand it off outside campaign headquarters? To critics, this looks far more like a failed payoff than a friendly gesture.
Greco’s tearful pleas and cultural defense may not be enough to shield her — or the campaign she once advised — from further scrutiny.
For a city already drowning in crime, corruption, and political scandals, this bizarre potato-chip cash drop is yet another reminder of how broken New York’s Democratic machine has become.
