Bochinche & Buzz: Will de Blasio get nailed on conspiracy charges?

While the bochinche mill in New York City is at overload levels with Mayor Bill de Blasio’s ongoing federal probes, two bochincheros (gossipers) caught my attention with their predictions about the investigations.

One of my interlocutors made it clear that “where they’re going to get the mayor is on conspiracy.” This person, as in the case of the other bochinchero, has been on and off the municipal and state government payrolls and been part of the political cloaca (sewer) for more than three decades.

“Why would you go to the (Conflicts of Interest Board) for advice on the legality of donations if you have an attorney that knows election law?“ asked my first bochinchero, in regard to de Blasio’s decision to not seek legal advice from his attorney, Laurence Laufer, before allegedly soliciting campaign donations through backchannels in his efforts to oust state Senate Republicans in 2014. Laufer served as general counsel to the city’s Campaign Finance Board before joining the private sector and is regarded as an expert on the nuances of campaign finance law. The other bochinchero I spoke to used almost the exact same wording in a separate conversation, making the same point.

This perception on the depth of the mayor’s legal problems is striking since these are two individuals – one from Brooklyn, the other from Queens – who supported de Blasio and haven't completely walked away from the besieged Democrat.

“You can't go to a urologist when what you need is a cardiologist,” is the vivid declarative used by one of the bochincheros regarding de Blasio’s decision to accept the advice of the COIB. He also said, “it’s a shame they're going to nail Bill, because he's a nice guy.”

The other amigo of the mayor, who is troubled by what de Blasio faces, made his point by stating, “You go to one Rabbi, he doesn't tell you want to hear, so you go to another Rabbi.” This bochinchero, who has been questioned in several of the de Blasio probes – but never charged – during his years in the game, also opines that, “if I can figure this out, the prosecutors are way ahead.”

At some point the probes will be completed and this bochinche may become reality for de Blasio. In the meantime the bochincheros have plenty to gossip about over the holiday weekend. Oy vey!