That’s gonna be one heck of a vacation.
The Brooklyn district attorney’s controversial right-hand man, rackets bureau chief Michael Vecchione, claims he’s owed $230,000 in compensation for unused vacation days as he prepares to retire after 24 years of working for Charles Hynes, The Post has learned.
Vecchione, who has been accused by two federal judges of prosecutorial misconduct, made known that he plans to get out before DA-elect Ken Thompson — who blasted him during the campaign — can fire him.
“Vecchione’s basically said, ‘Thompson said he’s firing me, so f–k him, I’m leaving before he can fire me,’ ” a Hynes source said in November.
But a member of Thompson’s transition team, wants to see Vecchione’s records before the big payout is approved, sources told The Post.
Thompson transition-team member Arnold Kriss was in the DA’s office Tuesday, examining Vecchione’s time sheets, said a source close to Hynes.
“There’s bad blood between [Kriss and Vecchione],” said the source, adding that the feud dates back to when they were in private practice together.
“Kriss wants to bust his balls. Kriss doesn’t like him.”
Kriss did not respond to requests for comment.
Even Vecchione’s harshest critics concede the hard-charging prosecutor took very few days off.
“Anyone would have to admit that Michael Vecchione was the hardest-working prosecutor in this office,” said a law-enforcement source, noting a four-year period when Vecchione convicted a string of corrupt judges and politicians, including Clarence Norman, Gerald Garson and Victor Barron.
Vecchione makes about $190,000 a year.
A Thompson spokesman declined to comment.