Winnie Greco, a longtime aide to Mayor Eric Adams, resigned from her position following federal raids on her homes earlier this year. Two other community liaisons to Adams also departed on the same day. The departures are linked to a federal case alleging illegal foreign campaign donations and other misconduct by Adams. Greco played a significant role in Adams’ campaign and administration, including fundraising from the Chinese community. She faced allegations of misusing her position, including demanding money for events and making promises in exchange for help with personal matters. Greco was under scrutiny by the city Department of Investigation and faced controversy regarding her stay at a Queens hotel. Following the raids, she went on leave due to a medical episode and returned to work in a different role with a salary increase.
Winnie Greco, a close aide to Mayor Eric Adams, has resigned from her position after her homes were raided by federal authorities earlier this year. The resignation was confirmed by her lawyer, Steven Brill, who stated that she made the decision to resign on her own. There was no indication of any pressure from City Hall to force her out. Greco was the lead liaison to the city’s Asian communities and had been with Adams for over a decade, starting when he was Brooklyn Borough President.
In addition to Greco, two other community liaisons for Adams also left their positions on Monday. Rana Abbasova was fired, while Mohamed Bahi resigned. Abbasova is a key witness in the federal case against Adams, which involves allegations of illegal foreign campaign donations and other illegal activities. She had been on leave since her home was raided by federal authorities in November.
Greco had a significant role in Adams’ 2021 mayoral campaign, particularly in fundraising efforts within the Chinese community. She also provided advice on engaging with Asian voters and played a crucial role in securing donations for the campaign. However, there were reports of misconduct by Greco, including allegedly demanding money for her nonprofit organization and using her position to benefit personally.
Following the federal raids on her homes in February, Greco was hospitalized due to a “medical episode” and was on leave until May. She then returned to work in a different role with a significant salary increase. Despite the controversies surrounding her, Greco continued to work in her new position until her resignation.
This development comes amidst ongoing investigations into Adams’ administration and campaign activities. The City Department of Investigation has opened a probe following reports of misconduct by Greco and others within the administration. The federal case against Adams is also ongoing, with Abbasova playing a key role as a cooperating witness.
Overall, Greco’s resignation and the departures of other key staff members highlight the challenges facing Adams’ administration as it navigates allegations of misconduct and illegal activities. The fallout from these controversies is likely to have far-reaching implications for the mayor and his administration in the coming months.
Source: TheCity.NYC
