People Wait For Tomorrow's UWS Apple Store Opening
FIT Students Busted For Drug Dealing Get Probation
Oreo The Dog Is Dead, Blame Game Is Not
Giuliani Livid Over Bringing 9/11 Trials to NYC
Digital Billboard Wreaks Havoc on Canal
The U.S. Attorney's office will be asking a grand jury to indict former police commissioner Bernard Kerik on tax evasion, corruption, and conspiracy charges. Kerik has reportedly made arrangements to surrender tomorrow, instead of being arrested by U.S. marshals.
Kerik's dealings have also been questioned, even back when his friend Rudy Giuliani was mayor, but his past became a big story when President Bush nominated him for Secretary of Homeland Security in 2004, only for Kerik to withdraw the nomination when allegations of an illegal immigrant housekeeper, odd financial dealings, and even affairs came to light.
Now the charges involve whether Kerik accepted $165,000 in home renovations from a "contractor...seeking a city license" and not reporting $200,000 in income (paid by the same contractor) that went towards a $9,000/month rent at 350 East 79th Street. In 1999, Kerik, then the corrections commissioner, allegedly discussed the contractor, Interstate, with a city investigator at Walker's, which is why the federal prosecutors claims Kerik committed "theft of honest services."
Kerik's lawyer told the Times, "If they decide to bring charges, we will fight them, and he will win." Back in March, Kerik rejected a plea deal that would have allowed him to plead guilty. And in 2005, Kerik was interviewed by New York magazine - Kerik cried a lot.
Photograph of a Giuliani-Kerik wheatpaste by Choice Royce on Flickr
add to stumble upon
add to reddit
tweet this
post to facebook
this guy is a total sleazeball, and this should make Guiliani supporters think twice about their potential candidate's facility for good judgement. A good degree of credit for the success of New York's declining crime rate rightfully belongs to Bill Bratton. It will be interesting to see who he endorses when the time comes...!
A good degree of credit for the success of New York's declining crime rate rightfully belongs to the rank and file of the NYPD.
The fact that in constant dollars, a rookie cop makes less than one starting the job 20 years ago, is as disgraceful as Bernie and Rudy.
I'm giving 10 to 3 that George W. will give him a pardon. After all, being a loyal republiscum is more important than not breaking the laws.
As for the often-cited drop in crime, people who have actually studied this (as opposed to some of Rudy's unwashed supporters) know that there was a similar drop in crime nationwide, and the decline began while Dinkins was still Mayor! There was also a much better and effective use of the Police, thanks to Chief William Bratton (whom Rudy fired because HE wanted the credit for everything good happening in NYC) and his strong right hand man, Jack Maple. There were more Police on the streets of NYC because Bill Clinton, along with balancing the Federal Budget, allocated funds for more than 100,000 more cops in America. (One of dozens of campaign promises he either met or exceeded... as opposed to the last few repug presidents, who have never kept a promise.) David Dinkins went after these funds and put them into the NYPD... but, of course, Rudy claimed that it was HE who got that funding. Honestly, that man will say ANYTHING to get elected!
As I've said, it will be amusing watching Rudy do a public meltdown once national reporters start asking him questions... questions that he does not want to answer. Questions about the radios that didn't work and caused the deaths of our Firefighters. Questions about the Love Nest, I mean "command center" built a quick stroll from City Hall.
I agree with others when they say that Bratton was a major help in cleaning up crime in the city. Although I attribute that to Rudy more, who laid down the plan to restructure the city.
Of course, hats off to the cops themselves for doing their thing and acting it all out. It took great bravery, honestly similar to a soldier, to fight back crime back then.
Kerik actually did do a great job, and it is very disappointing and unfortunate to see these allegations come to light. Though I do think that he needs to be held accountable for his actions to the extent the law allows, I hope that others do give him credit for continuing and maintaining the ground work that was laid before him in keeping our city the safest in the nation.