Winnie Greco, a marketing campaign adviser to New York Mayor Eric Adams, discovered herself in sizzling water on Wednesday after she tried to provide a reporter for the native publication The Metropolis a wad of money – hidden in a bag of potato chips.
In response to the publication, Metropolis Corridor reporter Katie Honan bumped into Greco on the opening earlier within the day for Adams’ new Harlem marketing campaign workplace. Greco later texted Honan and requested to satisfy up together with her throughout the road from the brand new workplace outdoors of a financial institution.
The pair then went into an area Complete Meals, the place Greco purchased stated chips and opened the bag. She then handed the bag to Honan; when the reporter appeared into the bag later, she noticed that Greco had Stuffed a $100 invoice and several other $20 payments into the chips. At that time she texted Greco, stated she couldn’t settle for that cash and requested to return it to her — however obtained no response.
Honan knowledgeable her bosses at The Metropolis concerning the matter, and when contacted once more Greco informed Honan, “I make a mistake. I’m so sorry. It’s a tradition factor. I don’t know. I don’t perceive. I’m so sorry. I really feel so unhealthy proper now. I’m so sorry, honey.”
Greco later referred to as the publication again and informed them, “Can we overlook about this? I attempt to be an excellent individual. Please. Please. Please don’t do within the information nothing about me. I simply needed to be her buddy. I simply needed to have one good buddy. It’s nothing.”
Greco additionally informed the paper to contact her legal professional, who insisted “Winnie’s intent was purely harmless. Within the Chinese language tradition, cash is usually given to others in a gesture of friendship and gratitude. Winnie is apologetic and embarrassed by any unfavourable impression or confusion this may occasionally have brought on.”
The publication in the meantime notified the NY Division of Investigations, and reported Wednesday night time that the cash is now in possession of the U.S. Lawyer for Brooklyn. Greco has since been suspended as an adviser to Adams’ reelection marketing campaign, The Metropolis reported.
However Adams isn’t any stranger to allegations of corruption. He was indicted on federal corruption costs a 12 months in the past. He denies any wrongdoing, however regardless of being elected in 2021 as a Democrat, after his indictment he started to publicly help Donald Trump.
Trump’s Division of Justice killed the case towards him quickly after he took workplace, doing so over the strenuous objections of a number of profession DoJ workers. This included interim US Lawyer for the Southern District of New York, Danielle Renee Sassoon, appearing head of the DOJ’s legal division Kevin Driscoll, John Keller, the appearing head of the DOJ’s Public Integrity Part, three different prosecutors within the Public Integrity Part and Hagan Scotten, lead prosecutor within the case towards Adams. All of them resigned in protest.
In the meantime, alongside Adams final 12 months, a number of different metropolis officers have been investigated, together with Greco, who then resigned as Adam’s Director of Asian Affairs.
