(Bernie) Kerik Turns Down Federal Plea Deal

[sabra]

http://www.wnbc.com/investigations/11244983/detail.html

First On WNBC.com: Kerik Turns Down Federal Plea Deal

NEW YORK -- News Channel 4 has learned former NYPD commissioner Bernard Kerik has rejected a plea deal offered by federal prosecutors that would have required Kerik to serve time in prison.

Federal prosecutors offered Kerik a deal where he would plead guilty to tax fraud and illegal eavesdropping conspiracy charges, sources familiar with the negotiations say.

In exchange for his guilty plea, investigators were willing to end the federal criminal probe into Kerik's alleged wrongdoing which includes allegations of mortgage fraud, tax fraud, conspiracy to eavesdrop and making false statements on his application to become U.S. Homeland Security Secretary.

"We rejected the plea deal because Mr. Kerik paid his taxes and did nothing wrong," said Kerik's attorney Ken Breen. A spokesman for U.S. attorney Michael Garcia declined to comment on the investigation as did officials with the FBI, IRS, City Department of Investigation and Westchester County District Attorney.

[ncteechur]

1. Damn I hope that crooked mofo goes to jail. eom

[saigon68]

5. Another Repuke Thug

Read more about the sorry asshole

http://www.hobart-wi.org/pages/dedicationspeech.html

[UpInArms]

2. CNN: December 3, 2004 Bush to tap Kerik for Homeland Security

http://www.cnn.com/2004/ALLPOLITICS/12/02/homeland.security/index.html

WASHINGTON (CNN) -- President Bush will nominate former New York City police commissioner Bernard Kerik to take over as secretary of homeland security, two administration officials said Thursday.

Kerik, 49, led the New York City Police Department through the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001, and their aftermath.

He is currently a senior vice president of Giuliani Partners, the consulting firm founded by Rudy Giuliani, who as mayor of New York appointed him police commissioner in 2000. (Profile)

In 2003, Kerik went to Iraq at Bush's request to help train the new Iraqi police force, and he campaigned for Bush's re-election, making at speech at the Republican National Convention in August. (CNN Access: Working hard | Retraining)

An administration official told CNN that on at least two occasions Giuliani made a personal pitch to the White House that Kerik be named to succeed Secretary of Homeland Security Tom Ridge, 59, who announced his resignation Tuesday.

A senior administration official described Kerik as a "proven crisis manager" with "credibility and firsthand understanding of the war on terror."

...more...

[maddezmom]

8. Kick

:D

[UpInArms]

10. Kerik made millions from agency contractor

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/6684832/">Homeland Security nominee sat on board of stun-gun maker

Updated: 10:20 a.m. ET Dec. 9, 2004

WASHINGTON - Bernard Kerik, President Bush's choice to run the Homeland Security Department, made $6.2 million by exercising stock options he received from a company that sold stun guns to the department — and seeks more business with it.

Taser International was one of many companies that received consulting advice from Kerik after he left his job as New York City police commissioner in 2001, when he was earning $150,500 a year. Kerik remains on Taser's board of directors, although the company and the White House said he planned to sever the relationship.

Partnering with former New York Mayor Rudolph Giuliani and also operating independently, Kerik has had business arrangements with manufacturers of prescription drugs, computer software and bulletproof materials, as well as companies selling nuclear power, telephone service, insurance and security advice for Americans working abroad.

<snip>

Kerik and other former New York City officials joined the ex-mayor in Giuliani Partners, a consulting firm. In 2003, Kerik became chief executive officer of an affiliate consulting company, Giuliani-Kerik. Many of the clients needed security expertise.

Michael Hess, senior managing director of Giuliani Partners, said Kerik will be severed from Giuliani Partners and Giuliani-Kerik shortly. Neither company has federal contracts and neither does lobbying work, said Hess, a New York corporation counsel under Giuliani.


Former New York City Police Commissioner Bernard Kerik, left, speaks at the White House last week. Kerik made $6.7 million by selling stock given him by Taser International.

...lots more...

[gratuitous]

3. Ohboyohboyohboyohboy

I wonder if Rudy will appear as a character witness for Bernie boy? Of course, Rudy will be up for a perjury rap of his own if he testifies that Kerik has any character at all. I'm guessing Giuliani will find a sudden reason to go on a fact-finding trip to Brazil when Kerik goes to trial.

I wonder how former U.S. Attorney Giuliani likes Kerik's lawyer's statement that the U.S. Attorney in New York is prosecuting innocent folks who've done nothing wrong?

[salin]

4. Never forget - this is jr.'s choice for head of the homeland security dept

[Gabi Hayes]

6. and, the most important thing, upon whose CONSIDERED and CAREFUL JUDGMENT

did he submit the nomination for congressional approval?

upon WHOSE leadership, judgment, does this reflect most profoundly?

this is the real issue here.

how does St. Rudy respond to the PROMINENT role Kerik played in Giuliani's political fortunes?

Always remember to whom Giuliani supposedly uttered this famous quote:

"Thank GOD George Bush is President!"

[UpInArms]

13. why, I do believe that was directed to Bernie!

At the time, we believed that we would be attacked many more times that day and in the days that followed. Without really thinking, based on just emotion, spontaneous, I grabbed the arm of then-Police Commissioner Bernard Kerik, and I said to him, "Bernie, thank God George Bush is our president."
[br />I say it again tonight. I say it again tonight:

Thank God that George Bush is our president, and thank God that Dick Cheney, a man with his experience and his knowledge and his strength and his background, is our vice president.]

[underpants]

14. Alberto Gonzales at least went to law school

Other than that though I don't see a huge different between the two of them. Bernie was Rudy's limo driver IIRC. Gonzo is W's token.

[burrowowl]

7. Oh Yes!

That one. It is so hard to keep track of all the malevolence of the BU$HCO MALADMISITRATION!

[bklyncowgirl]

9. Somebody needs to tie this joker around Saint Rudy's neck

Bernie Kerik was Rudy's right hand man--the total yes man--and the guy the Rudy recommended to run Homeland Security.

There's enough dirt on Bernie to tarnish the reputation of his patron. Even if he doesn't get convicted, the vision of him doing the nasty with Judith Regan (Of OJ "If I Did It Fame) in a rented love nest overlooking the smoldering ruins of the World Trade Center should be enough to make even the most gung ho law and order Republican think twice. Add to that the fact that this guy was responsible for training the phenomenally inept Iraqi police force and it frankly is just too good to be true.

This is the guy that Giuliani thought would make a just dandy Homeland Security Director? My only question is, will one of the other Republican Candidates fire the first shot or will they circle the wagons around the New York Hero and wait for the Democrats to do it and then cry foul.

[sarcasmo]

11. Kick, another member of the corrupt Bush crony Corporation.

[LiberalFighter]

12. Does he expect Giuliani to influence Bush so that the US ATTORNEY

will not pursue the investigation further?