A spokesperson for Eric Adams’ mayoral reelection campaign reacted to a report that the mayor’s adviser and campaign volunteer, Winnie Greco, gave a journalist cash stuffed inside a bag of potato chips.

Newsweek reached out to Adams’ campaign via email late Wednesday night for comment.

Why It Matters

Greco, a longtime associate of Adams and former director of Asian affairs at City Hall, has previously drawn scrutiny after the FBI searched her homes last year in a federal probe of suspected interference by Chinese officials in the city’s 2021 mayoral race.

The reported latest incident potentially adds to ethical and legal questions already shadowing the mayor and his reelection efforts. The episode prompted the campaign to suspend Greco from volunteer activities, Adams team spokesman Todd Shapiro said.

What To Know

At a Harlem campaign event on Wednesday, Greco purportedly met outside with reporter Katie Honan of The City and later walked into a Whole Foods market together. Honan was expecting to receive information on potential impending corruption charges against Adams associates, The New York Times reports, citing four people with knowledge.

Greco then handed Honan an open bag of Herr’s Sour Cream & Onion potato chips that contained a red envelope holding more than $100 in cash, reports say. Honan told the Times that she had tried to return the bag and then ultimately turned it over to her editors.

“I initially hoped it was a note, a tip, and then I looked and I go, ‘oh my God, it’s money,'” said Honan, per the Times.

In reaction to the story, 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,” Shapiro told the Times, adding that Adams “always demanded the highest ethical and legal standards.”

The City news outlet says that it contacted the New York City’s Department of Investigation and “did not open the envelope or count the money inside.”

Steven Brill, Greco’s lawyer, reacted to the reports as well, saying that it is not uncommon to give cash to reporters in Chinese culture as “a gesture of friendship and gratitude,” the Times reports.

“I grant you this looks odd,” Brill added, “But I assure you that Winnie’s intent was purely innocent.”

Newsweek reached out to Brill via online form late Wednesday night.

This is a developing story that will be updated with additional information.