A longtime adviser to New York Metropolis Mayor Eric Adams who resigned from his administration whereas beneath FBI scrutiny gave a reporter a potato chip bag stuffed with money Wednesday following a marketing campaign occasion, a present her lawyer later insisted wasn’t an tried bribe.
The reporter, Katie Honan, had scrutinized Greco’s conduct prior to now as a significant fundraiser for Adams within the Chinese language American neighborhood.
Greco’s lawyer, Steven Brill, advised The Related Press that the scenario was being “blown out of proportion.”
Requested why Greco wished to make such a gesture to Honan, Brill mentioned, “She knows the reporter and is fond of her.”
The Metropolis mentioned it interviewed Greco later Wednesday, and he or she apologized, saying she made “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,” Greco mentioned, in keeping with The Metropolis.
In response to the report of the bag stuffed with money, Adams’ reelection marketing campaign mentioned it had suspended Greco from additional work as an unpaid volunteer and that Adams had no prior data of Greco’s actions.
The Metropolis reported Greco had texted Honan to satisfy her inside a Entire Meals retailer after they each attended the opening of Adams’ marketing campaign headquarters in Harlem.
When given the chip bag, Honan at first thought Greco was simply giving her a snack and mentioned she couldn’t settle for it however Greco insisted, in keeping with the report.
Honan left and later found the cash, then referred to as Greco and advised her she couldn’t settle for it and requested to present it again. Greco mentioned they may meet later however then stopped responding, the report mentioned.
A Metropolis Corridor spokesperson declined to remark Wednesday night time. An Adams marketing campaign aide, Todd Shapiro, mentioned Greco holds no place within the marketing campaign.
“We are shocked by these reports,” Shapiro mentioned. “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.”
A textual content message despatched to a telephone quantity listed in public data for Greco was not instantly returned Wednesday night time.
Since she resigned as Adams’ director of Asian affairs final fall, Greco has often been seen at Adams marketing campaign occasions. Earlier than her resignation, Greco had served as Adams’ longtime liaison with town’s Chinese language American neighborhood. She was additionally a prolific fundraiser for Adams’ campaigns.
In February of 2024, federal brokers searched two properties belonging to Greco. Authorities didn’t clarify what the investigation was about, and Greco has not been charged with committing a criminal offense, however she was numerous shut aides to Adams who resigned or have been fired amid the federal scrutiny.
The Metropolis has reported extensively on the investigation and Greco’s conduct, together with a marketing campaign volunteer’s allegations that Greco had promised to get him a metropolis job if he helped renovate her residence.
A separate federal investigation into Adams led to a 2024 indictment accusing the mayor of accepting unlawful marketing campaign contributions and journey reductions from a Turkish official and others — and returning the favors by, amongst different issues, serving to Turkey open a diplomatic constructing with out passing fireplace inspections.
A federal decide dismissed the case in April after the Justice Division ordered prosecutors to drop the fees, arguing that the case was interfering with the mayor’s means to help President Donald Trump’s crackdown on unlawful immigration.
