Can’t blame Ken Lewis for wanting to stonewall NY AG Andrew Cuomo on the identity of execs who received $3.6b. in bonuses at the precise moment Merrill Lynch was craterting into the arms of BofA. But let’s get real. You don’t take $45b. in bailout money, do the deal to acquire ML at the behest of the Fed and Treasury, go along with all “stimulus” and “bailout” limits and prompts and prods in your business and then get squeamish about privacy.

Besides, Cuomo holds all the high cards, both politically and legally. He’ll pry the info from Lewis and crew one way or another. Meanwhile, BofA takes another PR hit. As the Daily News reports:

Emerging from the meeting, Lewis said only, “It’s been a long day and I’m tired. I answered all of the questions to the best of my ability and, hopefully, brought some clarity.” He refused to take questions from reporters.

Lewis came to New York from Charlotte, N.C., in a $50 million luxury corporate jet – one of nine such planes owned by the giant bank.

A BOFA spokesman told ABC News, “This was an important meeting which we felt justified the use of corporate aircraft for timing and efficiency,” but declined to talk about how much the trip cost.

Charlotte, N.C. Ooow! Ouch! That’s gonna leave a mark on Uptown. More to come.