A top ally of New York City Mayor Eric Adams has once again been sidelined from his political operation following reports of questionable conduct, as reported by The Independent Journal Review.
The Adams campaign suspended volunteer Winnie Greco on Wednesday after local outlet The City reported that she gave more than $100 in a potato chip bag to one of its journalists.
Greco previously resigned in October 2024 as Adams’ senior adviser and liaison for Asian affairs following an FBI raid on her home tied to campaign fundraising activities.
When confronted by The City about the money, Greco reportedly said:
“I make a mistake. I’m so sorry. It’s a culture thing. I don’t know. I don’t understand. I’m so sorry. I feel so bad right now. I’m so sorry, honey. 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, told The New York Times, “I grant you this looks odd. But I assure you that Winnie’s intent was purely innocent.” Brill argued the gesture was a cultural expression of friendship common in Chinese traditions.
His law firm did not respond to follow-up questions from the Daily Caller News Foundation.
Greco has been the subject of federal scrutiny for months. Investigators have examined her role in allegedly overseeing illegal “straw” donations, in which contributors were secretly reimbursed to boost Adams’ fundraising totals. No charges have been filed against her.
She has also faced questions regarding her ties to China. At a banquet with Adams, Greco shared the stage with a nonprofit leader who boasted about running a Chinese government police station in New York. Federal prosecutors later charged individuals tied to that operation.
Adams’ campaign distanced itself from the scandal, telling The New York Times, “We are shocked by these reports,” and stressing that Adams has “always demanded the highest ethical and legal standards.”
His campaign did not respond to comment requests from the Daily Caller News Foundation.
The FBI probe into Adams’ fundraising remains active. The Department of Justice alleged in 2024 that Adams had “sought and accepted improper valuable benefits” from wealthy foreigners and a Turkish official.
Those charges were dropped in February by the Trump administration. Several Adams associates are still expected to face criminal cases in the coming months, according to The New York Times.
Adams is currently seeking reelection as an independent candidate. He faces Democratic challenger Zohran Mamdani and Republican candidate Curtis Sliwa in the November race.
