Om, that’s a lot of fund-raising cash to spend on yoga lessons.
When he wasn’t blowing off constituent events, rogue Brooklyn Assemblyman William Boyland Jr. was using supporters’ dough to pay for fancy Gramercy Park yoga classes for him and his girlfriend, the now-former gal pal testified Wednesday.
Ry-Ann Hermon, the political scion’s ex-lover and chief of staff, told jurors at Boyland’s Brooklyn federal court trial that her ex-boss once used $500 in campaign contributions for them to attend two private yoga classes at the Atmananda studios in 2009.
“He told me we need to clear our minds,” Hermon recalled. “Yoga can release stress and tension, so he wanted us to partake in yoga classes.”
Prosecutors presented receipts from the high-end studio that showed Boyland’s cash payment for the stretch sessions.
Hermon also relayed the wellness tips delivered by their yogi.
Jurors were shown an e-mail from an instructor telling Hermon and the stocky assemblyman to avoid snacking for at least 12 hours at a time and to start their days with a hot cup of water.
Boyland — who routinely avoided block-association meetings — indulged in the extravagances despite routinely running out of money earmarked for community events.
Hermon also testified that Boyland got his son in a Brooklyn private school by offering to steer funds to their coffers — but eventually had to pull the boy for not paying tuition.
In addition to the yoga, fund-raiser cash from Boyland’s hardscrabble district was converted into flashy dinners at “hibachi steakhouses in Queens, Morton’s steakhouse, dinners,” Hermon testified.
Boyland faces up to 30 years in prison for allegedly offering undercover agents political favors in exchange for payoffs.
The assemblyman’s hope for an acquittal has taken a relentless pounding during Hermon’s continuing turn on the stand.
Hermon, a former real-estate broker, was arrested with Boyland for soliciting bribes, and quickly opted to cop a plea and testify against him.
She recalled her infamous reaction to being promised a $1,000 bribe at the Blue Water Grill in 2011. “I got an adrenaline rush that made me hot,” she said of the encounter.
“Physically hot?” asked Assistant US Attorney Robert Capers. “Yes, physically hot,” Hermon replied.
Despite their former romance, Hermon hasn’t been shy about burying Boyland on the stand at every opportunity.
“I felt the assemblyman was spoiled and unenthusiastic about his job,” she told the court, adding that he directly asked her to prepare documents for agents who were bribing them.
“The assemblyman has a reputation for not completing deals,” she said.
Hermon also groused that Boyland was greedy and that she was forced to seek out payola behind his back because he never spread the wealth.
“He never shared anything with us,” she said.
Fighting an uphill battle, Boyland’s lawyers have argued he had no intention of actually delivering on the political favors he promised and was seeking legitimate contributions.