Metro

Hynes officially kicks off Republican campaign for DA

Brooklyn District Attorney Charles Hynes announcing Tuesday he would seek reelection on the Republican line — fired up after learning his opponent’s Democratic Primary victory was aided by a crooked ex-assemblyman and party boss who he’d once sent to prison.

“I learned that Clarence Norman Jr., the former Kings County Democratic Chair, whom I convicted of political corruption by extortion and sent to prison, ran Mr. Thompson’s get out the vote campaign on Primary Day,” Hynes said in a speech on the steps of Brooklyn Borough Hall.

“While that was troubling enough, what was more troubling was that when challenged by a New York Post reporter, Mr. Thompson denied that Norman was involved in any way with his campaign.”

Hynes at his campaign rally Oct., 8, 2013Gabriella Bass

The career-Democrat, who has been DA in Brooklyn for 24 years — lost the Democratic primary in a landslide to challenger Ken Thompson last month.

But after repeatedly denying he would continue his run despite still being listed on the Republican and Conservative party ballots, Hynes reversed course Thursday and, as first reported by The Post, said he would fight to keep his post.

The 78-year-old also bashed Thompson as inexperienced. “This is about turning the office over to someone who is not qualified.”

Thompson has denied Norman took part in his campaign, despite multiple sources saying he actively lobbied on behalf of Thompson. A giddy Norman also attended Thompson’s primary night victory party.

Hynes’ remarks Tuesday were largely focused on Norman — and the DA emphasized The Post’s porting as a factor in his decision to continue running..

“Since the [Post] reporter had confirmed with four independent sources, including two political leaders who supported Thompson, that Norman was, in fact, actively involved in Thompson’s campaign operation, Thompson’s denial was simply not credible,” Hynes said.

“And now that Norman has acknowledged that he ran Thompson’s field operation on Primary Day it defies credulity that Thompson continues to deny that Norman had anything to do with his campaign.”

Hynes campaign spokesman Jerry Schmetterer referred to a NY1 story that noted Norman “has not denied helping Thompson.”

Hynes scored a conviction against Norman in 2007 on extortion charges in a scheme to sell judgeships that sent the former assemblyman and powerbroker to jail.