Metro

Mistress memory at a loss

SURPRISE TESTIMONY: In a blow to federal prosecutors, Gloria Jones-Grant (left) testified her ex-beau, Councilman Larry Seabrook (right), did not try to shake her down for a portion of consulting fees he arranged for her.

She’s standing by her guy.

City Councilman Larry Seabrook’s former mistress appeared to be suffering from selective amnesia yesterday as prosecutors forced her to testify at the Bronx Democrat’s corruption trial.

Gloria Jones-Grant — who admitted having an “intimate relationship” with the married pol between 2004 and 2007 — repeatedly rejected suggestions that Seabrook shook her down for kickbacks after he lined up lucrative consulting work for her.

Jones-Grant even denied confessing the alleged kickback scheme to federal investigators just last month, insisting: “I don’t recall saying that.”

The unexpected testimony — which visibly startled prosecutor Brent Wible — marked the second time a prosecution witness veered off script after being called to testify against Seabrook.

On Day One of the Manhattan federal court trial, boiler-company owner Leon Eastmond denied any “quid pro quo” involving about $50,000 he gave Seabrook’s political club and that Seabrook helped him land a lucrative contract for the new Yankee Stadium.

Jones-Grant appeared in court after being subpoenaed and granted immunity so she couldn’t invoke the Fifth Amendment to avoid incriminating herself in Seabrook’s alleged crimes.

She specifically admitted forging signatures on sublease agreements that prosecutors say Seabrook used to soak cash from council “slush” funds by secretly boosting the rent on space adjacent to his district office in The Bronx.

Jones-Grant also identified Seabrook’s handwriting on a budget proposal submitted to the city on behalf of a nonprofit the feds say was among several that Seabrook secretly controlled to provide taxpayer-funded jobs for friends and family.

In court papers filed this month, prosecutors said Jones-Grant was expected to testify that she paid Seabrook “cash kickbacks” after he helped her get a host of consulting jobs between 2002 and 2004.

But yesterday she said the money she gave “Councilman Seabrook” was “to repay a loan” and “to repay the money that I owed him.”

At one point, Jones-Grant said she owed Seabrook $18,000, but didn’t explain why.

The admission prompted Seabrook’s wife, Maria Diaz — who’s attended every day of the trial — to turn toward reporters on the other side of the courtroom and dramatically arch her eyebrows.

Diaz declined to comment afterward, and Seabrook’s defense lawyers wouldn’t discuss Jones-Grant’s claims.

“It will come out during cross-examination,” lawyer Edward Wilford said.

Jones-Grant — who served as executive director of three nonprofits prosecutors have tied to Seabrook — also denied telling investigators that Seabrook demanded cash as his preferred means of payment.

“Did you say you gave him cash because that’s what he asked for?” Wible asked.

“I do not recall that,” she said.