Winnie Greco, a former adviser to New York City Mayor Eric Adams, claimed Friday that a cash-filled potato chip bag she gave to a reporter was nothing more than a “birthday gift,” as reported by The New York Post.
I think that the Eric Adams potato chip story is such a great example of the power of photojournalism. The image of the cash in the Herr’s bag really makes the story. This pic is up there in the great photos of NYC like the sailor kissing nurse or lunch break on the steel beam pic.twitter.com/fpT0gsGJt3
— Katie Notopoulos (@katienotopoulos) August 21, 2025
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Greco was confronted by The New York Post in the Bronx and offered a lengthy explanation about the incident, which has drawn widespread scrutiny. The bag, filled with money and tucked into a sour cream and onion potato chip package, was handed to City reporter Katie Honan.
Ex-Adams advisor Winnie Greco claims cash-stuffed chip bag she gave to NYC reporter was ‘birthday gift’ https://t.co/wLt1hu2KES pic.twitter.com/V8PX6czRph
— New York Post Metro (@nypmetro) August 22, 2025
“I don’t have purpose, and I treat people everyone is the same,” Greco said.
“It’s angel, OK, but if somebody want to hurt me because I have love to my community, and I have love to the world, to my family, my people, and somebody try to hurt me, I cannot say nothing.”
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She further stated the cash came from her own birthday celebration. “Before I didn’t know how much in my envelope because it’s my birthday gift that’s Chinese culture. Somebody give me my birthday gift, I made big mistake I’m so sorry. Talk to my lawyer,” Greco said.
When asked directly whether she believed Honan wanted to “hurt” her, Greco doubled down: “Yes. Talk to my lawyer.”
Ex-Adams adviser Winnie Greco claims cash-stuffed chip bag she gave to NYC reporter was ‘birthday gift’ https://t.co/w0B5bdmTu0 pic.twitter.com/ysPjRWpX6C
— New York Post (@nypost) August 22, 2025
The episode was widely interpreted as a possible bribe or payoff attempt. Greco and her attorney, Steven Brill, have maintained the money was given in line with Chinese cultural practices, where cash gifts are customary at birthdays and special occasions.
Brill reiterated Friday that the gesture was “meant as a kind gesture, not as anything nefarious.”
Greco resigned from her City Hall post earlier this year under scrutiny regarding her activities as an adviser to Adams.
Her explanation Friday appeared to differ from earlier defenses she and her attorney offered, which centered solely on cultural traditions rather than the birthday claim.
Honan confirmed that she was not working on any story related to Greco at the time she received the money-filled chip bag.
Reporter on finding cash in chip bag from longtime Adams ally: ‘Kept insisting that I take the chips’
@GlennSchuck reports: https://t.co/J2ROTKA86U pic.twitter.com/oFzpHkfStr
— 1010 WINS on 92.3 FM (@1010WINS) August 21, 2025
The Post noted that her birthday is in November, but could not confirm Greco’s birthday after requests for clarification went unanswered by Adams’ campaign and her attorney.
The FBI has reportedly investigated Adams’ campaign fundraising practices, though no direct connection between Greco’s actions and those probes has been established. The bizarre incident with the cash-filled chip bag remains under review.
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