Police Commissioner Bill Bratton was barely out of earshot, having exited Wednesday’s PAL (Police Athletic League) lunch at the Pierre, when defense lawyer Ben Brafman made him the butt of a joke.
Brafman — whose firm has represented Jacob (the Jeweler) Arabo, Plaxico Burress, Sean Combs, “Sammy the Bull” Gravano, Charles Kushner and Dominique Strauss-Kahn — was being honored along with former Police Commissioner Robert J. McGuire.
“Police Commissioner Bratton just got a call and had to leave immediately because a very high-profile person was just arrested for jaywalking,” Brafman said. “… Mayor de Blasio.”
Manhattan DA Cyrus Vance, Margo and John Catsimatidis, Hamptons Sheet publisher Joan Jedell and bachelor billionaire Stewart Rahr erupted in laughter.
Brafman also said an invite to the luncheon had mistakenly been sent to a client who is serving 15 years in prison. “I would donate to the cause but I have no more money,” the man phoned Brafman.
“I gave you all my money.”