Bernard Kerik, the disgraced NYPD Commissioner under Rudy Giuliani, will not be seeing the outside of his minimum-security prison any time in the near future. Today a three-judge appeals panel considered the "fairness" of Kerik's four year sentence and found no reason to overturn it. Kerik’s lawyers had argued that Judge Stephen C. Robinson's four-year sentence "had been unreasonable and showed judicial bias," alleging that Robinson "took offense" at Kerik's criticism of prosecutors. But the appeals court found that rich: more ›

Back in 2007, former Harper Collins editor Judith Regan filed $100 million lawsuit against Harper Collins and its parent company, News Corp, for defamation. She accused a Fox News executive of telling her to lie to federal investigators while they investigated former Police Commissioner Bernard Kerik (who is now in prison) because news of her affair with Kerik would hurt Rudy Giuliani's presidential chances. And now it seems like the executive she was referring to was Fox News chairman Roger Ailes. more ›

Yesterday Facebook took down Sarah Palin's Facebook post about the proposed mosque and community center near Ground Zero. But the popular social networking site/major motion picture franchise later apologized, and explained that Palin's note was removed not because she's an insufferable asshole, but because the automated system made a boo-boo. more ›

Today's the day the guy whom George Bush wanted to run Homeland Security goes to prison for four years. After pleading guilty to lying on his application for the position, lying to the feds, tax fraud, and accepting $250,000 in renovations to his Bronx apartment provided by a company accused of having mob ties, a judge sentenced disgraced NYPD Commissioner Bernard Kerik to a term well beyond the recommended federal guidelines, telling him "The fact that Mr. Kerik would use [9/11] for personal gain and aggrandizement is a dark place in the soul for me." But yesterday, on the eve of his imprisonment, Kerik hit back like Clubber Lang. more ›

On May 17th, disgraced NYPD Commissioner Bernard Kerik will be off to prison to serve a four-year term for tax fraud and lying to the White House while under consideration for Homeland Security chief back in 2004. But for now he's still under house arrest in New Jersey, where he's been keeping in touch with the world through the Facebook and the Twitter and, most recently, a blog. Kerik tells TPMmuckraker, "It's all national security and terrorism stuff related to some of the threats we face, things that I think we should be looking at." Yes, look at that stuff, and not Kerik's corruption and utter lack of credibility! more ›

Remember how corrupt former NYPD Commissioner Bernard Kerik was sentenced to four years in federal prison last month, for lying to the feds, tax fraud, and accepting $250,000 in apartment renovations from a mobbed-up company? One might assume Kerik is kicking it in some country club prison by now, but turns out that despite agreeing to a plea deal, he can appeal because the sentence exceeded the prosecutors' recommendation (33 months under federal guidelines). So Kerik, who's still under house arrest, just requested permission to travel to Washington to meet with a lawyer. And Judge Stephen Robinson, who told Kerik the case sent him to "a dark place in the soul" said no. Bernie is grounded. Can we get a ha-ha? more ›

Post columnist Cindy Adams paid a visit to corrupt former NYPD commissioner Bernie Kerik at his New Jersey home, just days before yesterday's sentencing. It's pretty engrossing stuff, especially if you enjoy reading about arrogant, self-serving public officials brought to their greedy knees. To pass the time during home confinement, Kerik's been working on a novel (with a ghost writer) about terrorists. And when he gets out of prison he plans to "maybe try counseling. Teaching that the lessons learned are you can't cut corners." Perhaps the hardest part about all this is the way people he thought were his friends, like Rudy Giuliani, have completely abandoned him: more ›

Poor Bernard Kerik shouldn't have to spend much time in prison because of his "extraordinary public service," and his "extraordinary and meteoric rise from truly humble origins wrought with hardship," his defense lawyers argue. On the other hand, prosecutors submitted a long memo to the judge yesterday that highlighted Kerik's "egotism and hubris", and dredged up an extraordinarily petulant letter the former NYPD commissioner sent in 1999 to his buddy Larry Ray (himself a former NYPD commissioner) which makes Kerik look like a crass, money-grubbing whiner. more ›

Well, hello there! It looks like disgraced former NYPD Commissioner Bernie Kerik has been prepping for prison by eating plenty of tossed salad. Recent Facebook photos show the convicted felon looking fit and fetching—a lot less Sergeant Schultz and a little more Kevin Spacey. more ›

Geraldo Rivera—what a pal! The journalist was spotted by the Daily News visiting Bernard Kerik at the soon-to-be-sentenced former police commissioner's Franklin Lakes, NJ home. Rivera said, "Considering he's been hung out to dry by the justice system, I think he's doing remarkably well... He's a man of great integrity and courage and he'll get through it." He added, "I can tell you what I said. I said he was screwed." It's unclear if Rudy Giuliani has been to Kerik's home to see his (one-time?) BFF. more ›

Disgraced former NYPD Commissioner Bernard Kerik was released from jail last night on $1.5 million bond and placed under house arrest as he awaits his February sentencing on various federal crimes. For the next few months, Kerik must wear an electronic monitoring bracelet and is not allowed to set foot outside his $2.5 million home in Franklin Lakes, N.J., except to visit lawyers, his church, and a hospital emergency room, if necessary. He's also allowed to meet with accountants fixing his fraudulent tax returns, but yesterday a judge denied Kerik's request to walk his children to school, telling him, "This is not home confinement with morning strolls and afternoon strolls." more ›

Former NYPD Commissioner and Giuliani crony Bernard Kerik could not hold back the tears during his court appearance yesterday to plead guilty to eight felonies. According to the Daily News, "As the judge spoke, Kerik seemed to take measure of the magnitude of his fall. He bowed his head and repeatedly wiped his eyes with his fingers... Kerik kept daubing his eyes, his face going red as if with the strain of all he was trying to hold in. He did not seem to be weeping so much as seeping." Wow, we felt zero sympathy for Kerik yesterday, and now we feel twice as much! more ›

Former NYPD Commissioner Bernard Kerik is expected to accept a plea bargain and plead guilty to at least one of the corruption charges against him. Under the agreement, Kerik would avoid three separate federal trials on charges of corruption, tax evasion and lying to federal officials, and serve 27 to 33 months. The Post is happy to note that had Kerik not "brusquely blown off" a similar plea offer in 2007, he'd have served just one year and saved $2 million in legal fees. more ›

Former NYPD commissioner Bernard Kerik faces a lengthy prison sentence and almost $5 million in fines if convicted on all 16 counts of fraud, conspiracy, and corruption. But sources tell the Daily News he's been offered a plea deal that would get him out of jail in under three years. Kerik is facing three federal trials; the first, set to begin on November 9th, accuses Kerik of letting a mob-controlled contracting firm renovate his apartment for free, while telling city investigators that that same firm had no criminal ties. more ›

Yesterday, a federal judge expressed concern over former police commissioner Bernard Kerik's condition while being held at the Westchester County Jail, after troubling reports from the jailhouse shrink. The Post reports that its sources "weren't surprised that the fallen hero of 9/11 was apparently losing it in the slammer. Kerik can't stand humiliation, the sources said, and was totally despondent after the 2004 debacle when corruption allegations derailed his nomination to head the federal Department of Homeland Security." ABC News' sources say Kerik is "depressed" and in a "funk" but is not suicidal. more ›

Questionable behavior is no stranger to disgraced former top cop Bernard Kerik, who is sitting in jail in Westchester County waiting for his trial on corruption charges. But now the judge who revoked his bail is concerned with his behavior. more ›

CityRoom reports, "The federal corruption trial of Bernard B. Kerik, New York’s former police commissioner, which was supposed to begin Monday, has been indefinitely postponed, according to a court document. There was no reason given in the document, which was filed Friday in the United States District Court in White Plains. No new date has been set." Our guess: The judge wants Kerik to have more time to think while in jail. more ›

Former NYC police commissioner Bernard Kerik spent the night in jail, after a judge in his federal corruption trial revoked his bail. Federal District Judge Stephen C. Robinson was unsparing in his criticism of Kerik's behavior, calling him a "toxic combination of self-minded focus and arrogance... And I fear that combination leads him to believe his ends justify his means. He sees the court’s rulings as an inconvenience, something to be ignored, and an obstacle to be circumvented." more ›

Former Police Commissioner Bernard Kerik, who faces federal corruption charges, is headed to the slammer, after a judge revoked his bail! From WCBS 880: "Judge Steven Robinson finds Kerik arrogant and self-minded and needs to get a clue. Robinson says Kerik's been violating court...hiring sham lawyers to pollute the jury pool and tamper with witnesses. The judge says he has no confidence that Kerik will stop this conduct, that he's lied to him in the past." more ›

In what must have seemed to Rudy Giuliani like a scene out of his nightmares, yesterday it was determined that there is officially a room where discussing 9/11 is off-limits—inside the courtroom of former Police Commissioner Bernard Kerik's corruption trial. During a pretrial meeting in White Plains federal court, the judge told Kerik's team, "This is not about 9/11." Kerik was indicted of trading city contracts for free apartment renovations to his Bronx apartment from a mob-linked contractor. more ›

Bernard Kerik, BFF of Rudy Giuliani and former NYPD commissioner, was indicted by a federal grand jury in Washington D.C. The indictment relates to statements he made while being vetted to head the Department of Homeland Security in 2004—prosecutors say he was lying while Kerik's lawyer says he's being "overzealously" pursued. Kerik is accused of numerous misdoings—such as not claiming more than $500,000 in income on his tax returns, taking money from a contractor who had been angling for a city contract, taking a free Upper East Side apartment from a developer, claiming $80,000 in charitable deductions he never made—and will be tried in NY for those. Kerik's lawyer told WCBS 2, "Mr. Kerik looks forward to finally clearing his name of these corruption charges at his federal trial in New York set for October...However many trials it takes, Mr. Kerik will vigorously defend himself against these unfounded accusations and is confident that he will be completely vindicated." In 2007, Giuliani called hiring Kerik "a mistake." more ›

The new Bravo housewives were unmasked earlier this week as the network aired a preview of The Real Housewives of New Jersey (watch it here). It was all very mafia mini-mall chic, to say the least. The big cameo this week was by none other than former NYC police commissioner Bernard Kerik! He now lives in Housewife territory in Franklin Lakes, N.J, and went uncredited for his scene, where he was training an attack dog in the yard of the show's Manzo family. The NY Times points out that "Mr. Manzo’s father, who weighed 350 pounds but was known as Tiny, ran unsuccessfully for mayor of Paterson before buying the Brownstone [catering hall] in the 1970s. In 1983, he was found dead in the trunk of his Lincoln Continental with four bullet wounds to his chest. The crime was never solved." Kerik actually held a fundraiser in December at the Manzo's catering hall to raise money for his legal defense as he fights a federal indictment on corruption, tax evasion and perjury charges. He'll be getting ready for his real close-up when he faces trial this October. more ›

Former police commissioner Bernard Kerik pleaded not guilty to additional charges at his arraignment in federal court yesterday. The Daily News reports the new charges accuse him of "falsifying income tax records and not declaring a BMW luxury car he got as payment for consulting services." Kerik was previously indicted on 16 other charges, including conspiracy, mail fraud, wire fraud, tax fraud and making false statements (to the Department of Homeland Security), last year. Kerik had requested his DHS-related trial be moved from Washington D.C. to White Plains, but White Plains Federal Court Judge Stephen Robinson shot that down for now. Kerik is due back in court in February. more ›

Friends of former NYPD Police Commissioner Bernard Kerik are throwing him a fund-raiser to help with his legal bills. Kerik was indicted on federal charges including tax fraud and perjury last November and previously pleaded guilty to accepting over $200,000 in gifts while working for the city. According to the Post, this isn't the first time a Kerik fund-raiser has been planned: A source says, "He tried this on the last go-round. But it never got off the ground. No one wanted to come [to his dinners]. People didn't want to be involved with him anymore. His friends all turned their backs on him." Does that include BFF Rudy Giuliani?!? At any rate, the fund-raiser at a NJ hotel has a minimum "donation" of $75 to attend. more ›

Lawyers for Bernard Kerik, the disgraced and indicted former NYPD commissioner, demand that feds explain how they got his former lawyer to rat him out. The Post reports a "sweeping, pre-trial motion" says that Joseph Tacopina told the governments things Kerik told him "in confidence." However, Tacopina claims nothing he told the feds was in client-lawyer protected conversation. Kerik also complained that he's being targeted for not paying taxes on his nanny while other high-profile people were accused of the same thing and never paid up. And regarding charges related to "making false statements," Kerik's lawyers say the government's questions--when being vetted for the Homeland Security top spot--were too vague, so not telling them about his links with mob isn't really lying. more ›

The AP says that former police commissioner Bernard Kerik has had at least two "closed-door" sessions with federal prosecutors and the judge. It's unclear what they've been discussing (the judge won't unseal records of the talks), but Kerik was indicted last fall for accepting free renovations on his apartment, making false statements (you know, lying to the White House), and more. Even Rudy Giuliani, who championed Kerik and promoted him to head the NYPD, admitted that not vetting him properly was a mistake. more ›

• Today on the Gothamis Newsmap: a bank robbery on 40th St. and 7th Ave. in Manhattan, a stabbing on Morris Ave. and East 190th St. in the Bronx, and a sinkhole on 68th St. and Madison Ave. in Manhattan.
• The original and exisiting Coney Island boardwalk originated from wood chopped down from the Amazon rainforest. The new and improved CI boardwalk will be made of plastic, made from oil. Onwards and upwards!
• Queens Crap reports the Mayor's Community Affairs Unit "sent police to St. Saviour's today to make sure the developers' efforts to demolish the church were not impeded."
• That duct tape-homicide at the Best Western motel? The ME ruled it a suicide.
• The Park Slope Armory's $16 million renovation was revealed; the YMCA will operate the stunning facility.
• Bernard Kerik was back in court. Prosecutors are arguing his lawyer has to recuse himself because he's a likely witness.
• Parker Posey sells her East Village digs, joining the establishment at 30 Fifth Avenue.
• A Connecticut battalion chief firefighter was shot during a bank robbery. Cops shot another person by accident as the actual robber made his getaway.

Rudy Giuliani's poor showing in the presidential campaign has plenty of people giving their opinions on why it all went wrong. more ›

The NY Times' editorial board has made its endorsements for the upcoming primaries. While the Times' selection of Hillary Clinton over Barack Obama is interesting (the Times cites experience), we're very taken with the editorial about the Republican candidates. more ›

Rudy Giuliani's good financial fortune derived from the formation of Giuliani Partners is leading to political misfortune, as yet another piece of lucrative business he conducted in the private sector has come back to haunt his candidacy. Recently, his involvement with Purdue Pharma--the producers of the painkiller OxyContin--has come under scrutiny. more ›