In a shocking turn of events, Eric Adams, the Mayor of New York City, is now facing federal corruption charges that have unveiled a web of connections involving Winnie Greco, his Asian affairs advisor. Investigations by The City and Documented have uncovered over 2,500 pages of emails that suggest Greco played a pivotal role in Adams’ dealings with the Chinese community for nearly a decade, particularly during his time as Brooklyn Borough President.
One revealing incident occurred in September 2016, when Adams received two simultaneous invitations: one from the Chinese Consulate in New York to celebrate the 67th anniversary of the People’s Republic of China, and another from the Taipei Economic and Cultural Office for Taiwan’s National Day. When it came to deciding which event to attend, Adams sought Greco’s counsel. As his liaison for the Chinese community, Greco recommended attending the Chinese National Day celebration while politely declining the Taipei invitation. She cautioned in her email to his team that participating in the Taiwan event could lead to complications, explaining, “This is an independence day for the Taiwanese. Given the tensions between China and Taiwan, it would be best if he does not go.” She underscored the need for caution around Taiwan-related matters.
Further investigations have revealed that Greco has been instrumental in building connections between Adams and Chinese officials. She even accompanied him on trips to China. Despite holding a voluntary position, the Brooklyn Borough Government issued business cards identifying her as Adams’ “U.S.-China Ambassador.” Greco’s connections were evident as she also mentored Linda Sun, a former Deputy Chief of Staff to the New York Governor, who was recently arrested for allegedly acting as a secret agent for China.
After Adams was elected mayor, Greco was promoted to special advisor and director of Asian affairs, reportedly earning over $100,000 a year. Her unique position allowed her direct reporting access to the mayor, though there appears to be some confusion among aides regarding her specific duties.
In a dramatic twist this year, on February 29, the FBI executed search warrants at two of Greco’s residences and her office. Following the raid, she complained of sudden back pain and had to be hospitalized. Afterward, Greco took a medical leave from her city position, returning in May.
As part of its findings, the investigation unveiled that Greco had fostered a close relationship between the Sino-America New York Brooklyn Archway Association and Beijing’s Chaoyang District foreign affairs office. This association was responsible for funding several of Adams’ trips to China during his tenure as borough president. Additionally, Greco arranged meetings between Adams and the last two Chinese Consuls in New York—Guo Xiang Sun and Qi Yue Zhang—during which Adams honored Zhang with certificates of appreciation in 2015 and 2016.
Despite efforts to reach out for a comment, Greco could not be contacted, and both the Chinese Consulate and the Taipei office have yet to respond.
