ICYMI: Former Sen. Mike Balboni joined me on CapTon last night to discuss the increasingly convoluted case against so-called “lone wolf” terrorist Jose Pimentel.

Speaking as a former state homeland security czar-turned-consultant, Balboni acknowledged some of the circumstances surrounding the case – including the FBI’s reported decision to take a pass due to complications with a confidential informant and concerns about Pimentel’s mental health – are pretty unusual.

I also asked him for his prediction on whether his former colleagues in the Senate GOP conference will be able to retain the majority next fall. Balboni’s pragmatic answer: “It depends.”

(Recall that some of Balboni’s fellow Republicans were very angry with him for accepting a job with then-Democratic Gov. Eliot Spitzer, eventually costing them a key Long Island seat. Now that they’ve won it back – last fall Sen. Jack Martins defeated Craig Johnson, who won Balboni’s old seat in a 2007 special election – perhaps Balboni’s relationship with his old conference has eased a bit).

Balboni said that if the Republicans are able to control the redistricting process, then he’s fairly certain they’ll be able to stay in control. Trouble is, it’s looking increasingly less likely that they’ll be able to do that, thanks in no small part to Gov. Andrew Cuomo’s pledge to veto any lines that are drawn in the traditional, politically-controlled manner.

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