New York Mayor Eric Adams’s candidacy for re-election added yet another scandalous notch to its belt — one that involves cash disguised as sour cream & onion flavored potato chips.

According to local New York paper, The City, their City Hall reporter Katie Honan was discreetly handed at least $100 by a former top City Hall advisor — and current campaign confidante to Mayor Eric Adams — after a campaign event in Harlem on Wednesday.

In the style of a nesting-doll, a Herr’s potato chip bag held a red envelope, which held a wad of cash — passed along by Winnie Greco, a longtime Adams ally who held the position as the mayor’s liaison to the Asian community until last year, when Greco resigned after being targeted in multiple investigations. Recently, she reappeared as a constant force in Adams’s re-election campaign.

According to Honan, she spotted Greco in Harlem, near the announcement of Adams’ upcoming campaign office. Afterward, Greco texted Honan to meet her across the street from the event. Walking inside a Whole Foods, Greco offered Honan the bag of chips. According to The City, Honan declined the offer — of what she thought was a “light snack” — more than once, but eventually accepted, folding to Greco’s insistent effort. They said their goodbyes and parted ways before Honan discovered the money, called Greco to say she couldn’t accept it and needed to return it, but Greco said they could eventually meet in Chinatown.

Determined to give the envelope back, Honan texted again, “I can’t take this, when can I give it back to you?” But did not receive a response.

Later that day, The City interviewed Greco, asking about her intentions. She said she made “a mistake” and apologized profusely.

“I make a mistake,” she said. “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. I’m so sorry, honey.”

In a second call made by Greco to the publication, she requested they contact her attorney, Steven Brill, and added, “Can we forget about this? I try to be a good person. Please. Please. Please don’t do in the news nothing about me… I just wanted to be her friend. I just wanted to have one good friend. It’s nothing.”

Not before long, the publication was in touch with Brill, who told them:

“I can see how this looks strange, but I assure you that Winnie’s intent was purely innocent. In the Chinese culture, money is often given to others in a gesture of friendship and gratitude. Winnie is apologetic and embarrassed by any negative impression or confusion this may have caused.

While red envelopes — hongbao — are indeed a longstanding Chinese tradition often exchanged during cultural celebrations and holidays as symbols of good fortune, the act of handing one to a reporter covering a sitting mayor campaigning for his re-election raises serious ethical concerns. For journalists, accepting money from political allies is a bright-line violation — one that immediately triggered The City’s decision to escalate the incident to editors, and, ultimately, law enforcement.

This scandal came just one day before multiple of Adams’s other allies face charges for corruption and bribery. Ingrid Lewis-Martin, former chief adviser to the mayor who was friendly enough with Greco to introduce her as “my sister” at events, was indicted on Thursday for aiding friends’ in securing lucrative city contracts and expediting regulatory issues with city government in exchange for cash payments to her son, boujee karaoke parties, free home renovations, almost $10,000 worth of seafood for city events and even a guest appearance on the television series “Godfather of Harlem.”

Not to mention, a campaign volunteer once accused Greco of offering to help him get a city job so long as he helped oversee renovations to her home in The Bronx. The two followed through on their deal, and he continued to assist Greco with personal business during his employment by the Adams administration. Curiously, Greco also lived for almost nine months in a suite at a Queens hotel while it was under city contract to house formerly incarcerated individuals — a story broke by The City, leading to a federal probe and eventually an FBI raid of Greco’s Bronx home as well as a second house she’d recently purchased nearby. In light of the controversy, she went on medical leave for a few months before returning to City Hall with a new role and upgraded salary of almost $200,000.

Additionally, the mayor’s own federal corruption charges alleged a bribery conspiracy by the Turkish government — until the case was dismissed as part of intervention by the Trump administration.

Regardless of whether Greco’s gesture was a cultural token of friendship or more Adams clan controversy, campaign spokesperson Todd Shapiro has announced her suspension.

“We are shocked by these reports,” Shapiro said. “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.”