One of the more entertaining scandals of the year has surfaced.

Winnie Greco, a close advisor to Democrat Mayor Eric Adams, found herself suspended from his reelection campaign recently after she allegedly attempted to hand over cash hidden in a bag of potato chips. According to reports, the money was concealed in a red Chinese envelope, placed inside an “open bag of sour cream and onion ripple potato chips.”

Reporter Katie Honan initially thought it was just a casual snack offer and, understandably, declined the money. Greco had claimed she was merely keeping the cash for herself.

After realizing what had transpired, Honan asked Greco, “I can’t take this. When can I return it to you?” but Greco did not respond.

Interestingly, Greco didn’t exactly deny the allegations. Instead, she offered a rather peculiar excuse for what many perceived as a bribe.

Wild: Pay back Jano with cash packed with potato chip bags.
Wilder: I blame your culture.
Wildest: On the record, “Can I forget this?”

In an interview, she expressed remorse: “I’m making mistakes… I’m sorry. It’s about culture. I feel very bad right now.” There seems to be a disconnect between intent and perception here.

Later, she made another call to address the incident: “Can you forget this? I’m trying to be a good person. Please don’t take any action against me.” Greco added, “I just wanted to be her friend. That’s nothing.”

Her lawyer, Stephen Brill, argued that this situation shouldn’t be seen as a scandal, suggesting it reflects misunderstandings related to cultural practices. “In Chinese culture, money is often given as a gesture of friendship,” he explained, stressing that Greco was only trying to convey goodwill.

It’s interesting that she chose to use an empty potato chip bag for such an important gesture, which certainly adds a layer of absurdity to the whole affair. You might think someone in her position would have picked up a thing or two about how things work in America by now.

This isn’t the first time Greco has been linked to controversy. Earlier reports highlighted her home being explored by the FBI over unrelated corruption allegations.

Everything about this story is hilarious. There was nothing to pay, it was around $200, which was Winnie Greco’s reaction when the reporter kicked her out.

The Adams administration had previously allocated taxpayer funds to certain hotels for social integration programs that include helping more than 100 imprisoned New Yorkers. Reports indicate that Greco may have benefited from these contracts, allegedly residing in one of those hotel rooms for over eight months at a cost potentially exceeding $50,000 to the city.

The FBI has documented various major corruption cases, but it’s safe to say none involved cash exchanged in potato chip bags.