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TPM's Ultimate Kerik Scandal List!
No rundown of Bernard Kerik's ethical shortcomings could ever hope to be comprehensive, but we've done our best. So here, without any further ado, is our grand catalogue. Thanks to TPMm research hounds Adrianne Jeffries, Will Thomas and Peter Sheehy and TPMm readers for all the help.
In today's indictment:
-- Bribery. Accepted $255,000 worth of renovations to his apartment in an upscale section of the Bronx from a mob-connected construction company, Interstate Industrial Corporation, that sought his help in winning city contracts. Kerik was Commissioner of the New York City Department of Corrections at the time. He already admitted to charges from city prosecutors that the payments constituted an illegal gift.-- Tax fraud. Kerik failed to report $236,269 in rent for his Upper East Side apartment where he lived from December 2001 to December 2003 with his family. One of the city's biggest real estate developers, Steve Witkoff, paid the $9,650 in monthly rent. Kerik asked for Witkoff's help with the apartment while he was still police commissioner of NYC, and the real estate mogul made the payments because the two "anticipated doing business in the future."
-- More tax fraud. Kerik also failed to disclose $20,000 in consulting fees from a computer software company and $75,953 in royalties for writing his autobiography.
-- Even more tax fraud. Kerik failed to report wages paid to his nanny (more about that below), claimed $80,000 in phony charitable contributions, and falsely claimed a home office deduction for a home he had not moved into yet.
-- False statements. Lied on application for head of Department of Homeland Security about the nanny, payments from the construction company, and other things he preferred to keep quiet.
From before Kerik's time in city government:
-- Deported from Saudi Arabia. In 1982, Kerik was hired to provide security for a Saudi Arabian hospital. Nine former hospital employees have argued that Kerik acted as enforcer for his employer, Nizar Feteih, who used the security team to keep an eye on a handful of female hospital employees, as well as the men with whom they were in contact. Kerik is accused of inappropriate surveillance, including wiretapping staff members.Kerik declared one doctor disliked by Feteih as drunk and had him arrested (and later deported) under Saudi law. The outrage prompted an investigation by the Ministry of Health, which determined that many allegations of security abuse against Kerik were accurate. Kerik was fired over the incident and deported.
Kerik's many, many ethical shortcomings while working first as New York City corrections commissioner and then police commissioner:
-- Bringing Tammany to Rikers. Kerik was named in a 1999 civil suit alleging that correctional officers were coerced into supporting Mayor Giuliania’s campaign efforts and that those who refused or privately supported Democrats were punished or run out of their jobs. The case, which was eventually settled, was brought by a Democratic warden who claimed that Kerik threatened to "hunt down" anyone who was "disloyal."-- Gifts from mob-tied buddy. Interstate, that mob-connected construction company hired the best man at Mr. Kerik's wedding, his good friend Lawrence Ray, on Kerik's recommendation in late 1998. Ray, who has mob ties, said he gave Kerik $7,000 worth of cash and other gifts while Mr. Kerik was commissioner of correction and the police. Ray was indicted in 2000, alongside Edward Garafola (brother-in-law to mob underboss Sammy "The Bull" Gravano) of a $40 million market manipulation scheme of penny stocks.
-- 9/11 love nest. Kerik used a downtown Manhattan apartment, originally donated for the use of weary police and rescue workers who were helping at Ground Zero, for extramarital trysts with celebrity book editor Judith Regan and Jeanette Pinero, a city correction officer with whom Kerik carried on a long-time affair. (Things went sour when Pinero found a love note that Regan had left for Kerik.)
-- Retaliation against city employees for crossing his mistress. A Correction Department officer claimed in a lawsuit that he was repeatedly passed over for promotion because Kerik's lover, Correction Officer Jeanette Pinero, accused him of harassment. A Manhattan federal judge ruled in April 2007 that there was not enough evidence to support Deputy Warden Eric DeRavin's case. DeRavin said Kerik passed him over for promotion six times from 1998 to 2000. He eventually was promoted in May 2000 and retired early the following year. Kerik admitted he had a romantic relationship with Pinero that began in the fall of 1995 and lasted through early 1997, a year before he was named the correction chief in 1998, although he said he and Pinero remained friends through December 2001.
In another lawsuit, the city paid $250,000 to Herbert Reed, a 16-year veteran who claimed that the department filed bogus disciplinary and sexual harassment actions against him after he wrote up a friend of Pinero's for insubordination.
-- Using homicide detectives to find his other mistress's lost cell phone. Kerik sent two homicide detectives to investigate the disappearance of Judith Regan's cell phone and necklace. The items Regan said were stolen were later discovered with no indications of theft -- jewelry was later found at the bottom of Regan's handbag, a credit card was later found to have been left behind at a pharmacy, and the missing phone was later found in a garbage can in a TV studio where Regan had been.
-- Used city detectives as researchers for his book. Kerik was fined $2,500 by the New York City Conflicts of Interest Board in 2002 for using a police sergeant and two detectives to research his autobiography.
-- Shirked condo fees until a warrant was issued for his arrest. In 1998, Kerik was sued for failing to pay about $5,000 in maintenance fees on a condo he owned in New Jersey. When Kerik failed to respond to a subpoena, a judge issued a warrant for his arrest. A Kerik spokesman later said Kerik paid the fees and the warrant was withdrawn, but the existence of the warrant was news to the White House and Kerik's handlers.
-- Ran prison cigarette slush fund. For five years under Kerik, the city’s Correction Department operated a charity foundation that took in and spent some $1 million in rebates from tobacco companies on cigarettes bought with taxpayer dollars and sold to Rikers Island inmates, which allowed the money to be spent outside rules that govern public expenditures.The rebates had gone into city coffers until Kerik became president of the foundation in 1995.
Kerik failed to list his position as the foundation's president in financial disclosure forms he filed and deferred questions about it to its treasurer, Frederick Patrick, also a deputy police commissioner, who eventually pleaded guilty to stealing $137,733 from the foundation and was sentenced to a year and a day in prison.
-- The nanny. In 2002 and 2003, Kerik failed to pay taxes for a family nanny-housekeeper who might have been in the country illegally. She returned to Mexico. The Kerik family employed the nanny for about a year, until his personal finances were reviewed after his nomination to head the Department of Homeland Security.
And after that:
-- Brush with corporate scandal. During Kerik’s tenure the Corrections Center bought multiple security doors from the company Georal (at a cost of $50,000 per door). The purchase was controversial; the doors were poorly sized, expensive, difficult to maintain, and many have never been used.In 2003, Kerik was invited to join the board of Defense Technologies Systems; his advisory role granted him a commission on sales and a large number of stock options in penny stock. The next year, DTS earned the rights to sell Georal’s product, based on Kerik's introduction.
As Kerik's nomination looked likely in 2004, he returned his options to DTS. It is not clear whether he did so because of the recent scandal with Georgal, or to avoid scrutiny of his complicated financial relationship with the companies, given that his close associate Lawrence Ray had pleaded guilty two years prior to running penny stock pump-and-dump schemes for the mafia.
-- Another brush with corporate scandal. In 2004, Kerik was nominated to the board of Taser, giving him access to a large number of share options. On October 18th, 2004, selections of a government report studying the health risks of Taser's stunners was released; it found that the technology was "generally effective without significant risk." The company's stock skyrocketed, and Kerik exercised his options and realized a profit of more than $4.4 million. On November 26th, The New York Times questioned the validity of the government's report; only after the board sold shares worth $90 million was it discovered that the full report suggested there was "uncertainty in the results" of the tests.
-- Sued for legal fees. Kerik retained law firm Fulbright & Jaworski after his nomination to head the Department of Homeland Security was squashed and authorities began investigating his ties to Interstate, the mob-connected construction company. In October 2007, the law firm filed a lawsuit, claiming that Kerik has failed to pay $202,384 in legal fees.
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Comments (47)
Hmmm
"Kerik failed to report his wages to his nanny"
I have done personal income taxes for one of the larger firms, and I was unaware that it was required for a person to report his wage to his nanny as well as report them to the IRS.
Is this a new requirement? What part of the code is it in? What does the nanny do with the reports of wages? I need to know. I may be doing income taxes for others again, and this is good technical information.
Since it is well-known that there is no rhyme or rhythm to the various provisions of the tax code, I can never be totally sure that what you wrote was not a misprint or some form of unintended ambiguity.
November 9, 2007 7:02 PM | Reply | Permalink
OK, guys
Once is humorous, twice is someone is in a hurry and posted without editing.
"Kerik declared one doctor disliked by Feteih as drunk and had him arrested (and later deported) under Saudi law. The outrage prompted an investigation by the Ministry of Health, which determined that many allegations of security abuse by Kerik were accurate."
Were the security reports that Kerek made accurate or were the reports ON Kerek accurate. I can guess, but I shouldn't have to.
November 9, 2007 7:09 PM | Reply | Permalink
Rick, where have you been? This issue came up with one of Clinton's appointments at the beginning of his first term in 1993. Looks like you'll be filing some amended returns if the IRS doesn't contact first.
November 9, 2007 7:10 PM | Reply | Permalink
Halle,
I am fully aware of the requirement to report the amount of the Nanny's wages to the IRS and pay the employer taxes. I was unaware that Bernie, as the employer, was for some reason required to report ~his~ income to his nanny.
The way the sentence as written allows both interpretations. It is an unnecessary, confusing and perhaps humerous ambiguity as written, and I have duly appointed myself as the local language police First Class (LLP1).
November 9, 2007 7:21 PM | Reply | Permalink
Rick is right: he didn't have to report HIS wages to his nanny. he had to report the wages he paid to his nanny to the IRS, along with the employer FICA part
November 9, 2007 7:24 PM | Reply | Permalink
There is nothing funny about misspelling 'humorous' in a sentence in which the author proclaims himself to be the local language police First Class.
November 9, 2007 7:36 PM | Reply | Permalink
Perhaps, Rick B, as an LLP1, you could endeavor to be a tad less clever, and a tad more direct, so that your comments themselves would not add to unnecessary confusion and ambiguity.
Feigning confusion about an alternate interpretation of a poorly worded line, particularly when the details are clarified later in the post, may not be the most effective way of discharging your self-appointed language police duty.
Personally, I'm shocked, shocked(!) to discover that blog postings are sometimes put online with poor phrasing or even (shudder) typos.
November 9, 2007 7:37 PM | Reply | Permalink
One thing to remember about Kerik is that Giuliani broke the rules for this guy from the beginning.
Kerik is a high-school dropout and has a GED. In the NYPD, you need a college degree to be promoted to captain (these days I think you need one to be a lietenant), yet, Rudy promoted this guy to the top spot. So why did Kerik develop into a guy who take risks and do unethical things? Because Rudy has been covering for him for years.
Here's Wikipedia on Kerik:
More than half of mayor Giuliani's cabinet opposed Kerik's appointment. Kerik's lack of a college degree was among the cabinet's major concerns. Possession of a college degree was a requirement established in 1985 by then-Commissioner Benjamin Ward for anyone promoted above the rank of Captain. There have been questions raised regarding the fact that the City of New York's Department of Investigations bypassed the normal vetting process in appointing Kerik police commissioner. The accusation among others were that his chief qualification appeared to be that he had served as Giuliani’s driver and bodyguard.
November 9, 2007 7:53 PM | Reply | Permalink
There has to be something from Keriks time in Iraq missing here. Remember he was part of the Bremer team or the 1st Provisional Team to take over the running of Iraq after the invasion. He had to have his fingers is some nasty stuff while there.
November 9, 2007 8:19 PM | Reply | Permalink
As usual, great work Josh and Co., both for the thought and then for the execution.
This is the man Rudy appointed to be Corrections Commissioner for one of the largest municipal systems in the world without managerial credentials or degrees. This is the man who Rudy appointed Police Commissioner, who's friends are bad guys and behavior is consistantly on the self-serving side. And then Rudy recommends him as our top guardian. Just look at ALL THE TRASH-- put it together, as you have done. Rudy was hangin' around a pretty nasty old open pit dump, gulls and crows pulling the bags apart to get the rotten garbage. Didn't Rudy see it, or is he like George, more into loyalty and ideological correctness than competence, or, in this case, criminality and Self-Service? Rudy let his loyalty to Kerik blind him, with potential majorly majorly negative impacts on 'da people'. I don't think that's what the public wants. Hope the bigger media lays it all out there as you have done so well.
November 9, 2007 8:22 PM | Reply | Permalink
How is it that this guy just happens to, on top of everything, have ties to the Saudis?
It really is the stuff that makes for conspiracy theories.
November 9, 2007 8:32 PM | Reply | Permalink
Chris Lizza of WaPo was on a Countdown segment prefaced by Rudy's "judge me on my record"
Well they then went through just part of his Kerik record, then on to a laundry list of mayoral and campaign appointments - mobsters, kiddie pornos, racists, bribed officials.... The Crony King of New York
No wonder McCain was beaming on Hardball
Rudy Sleeps with the Fishes
http://www.godfatherfilms.com/films_images/lucas_end.jpg
November 9, 2007 8:45 PM | Reply | Permalink
john -- wasnt that countdown bit brilliant. man, hillary better snag that for when she's campaigning against him.
November 9, 2007 9:53 PM | Reply | Permalink
Much more should evolve from first rate investigative work about Kerik's time in Iraq and prior to that in Saudi Arabia.
Who got him to Saudi Arabia, and when exactly did it occur? Also, what hastened his departure from Iraq during Bremmer's "reign"? How many trips to Iraq? and why.
I believe Kerik did work as part of Rudy's post 9/11 security co. The company made and is still probably making money in Iraq which would be a major factor re: Rudy's position on Iraq as well as Kerik's work.
What exactly did Kerik do? There's more prior to 9/11. Motorola supplied Rudy with radio communications for Police and Firemen. They were found defective and returned pretty quickly.
But guess what? This faulty inadequate radio/phone communication was passed on to police and firemen and on 9/11 they didn't work..Causing the loss of over 300 firemen as they could not be warned by police as they observed fireman going to their deaths in an inferno.
Why was Rudy's command center placed in WTC in spite of MANY warnings that it was a bad security risk after'93? Rudy insisted, so we want to know who benefited from his rent deal? Who was this and what are the particulars?
What EXACTLY kind of security work has Rudy produced for Iraq, and elsewhere?
To even suggest that Rudy didn't know about his mobbed up friend [bodyguard,driver] is utter nonesense. This wasn't bad judgement. That's a total lie.
Aside from the IRS, there is so much mobbed up connection relating to using Kerik's brother and obtaining work for him with [I believe] Ray or another contractor. Also Rudy certainly had to know about his close friend Kerik's giving out contracts for city work and contracting.
As to the IRS and nanny, I believe he had to give nanny a tax statement of filed earnings filed with IRS which shows FICA and all city and state taxes due on salaries.
She in turn, would therefore be expected as any wage earner to file with the IRS using his info re: earnings on a 1099 [?] Form that he was required to file with IRS, and she therefore had
to comply and file her earnings as well.
FOLLOW THE MONEY RE: Kerik AND Rudy.
There's much more in this backstory that involves [and continues] re: 9/11, Rudy's company, and work in Iraq.
November 9, 2007 9:57 PM | Reply | Permalink
http://www.nypdconfidential.com/columns/2006/061120.html
The Bernie Kerik Charity Fund?
November 20, 2006
- - snip
This time, sources say, authorities are seeking information on his royalty payments for a book of photographs about 9/ll entitled “In The Line of Duty.”
The book was published in 2001 by the HarperCollins imprint ReganBooks, which stated on its cover that it would donate all revenues — an estimated $500,000 — to the New York Police and Fire Widows' and Children's Benefit Fund.
ReganBooks is headed by Judith Regan, who in 2001 also published Kerik’s autobiography, “The Lost Son,” while conducting an affair with Kerik.
Kerik and former fire commissioner Thomas Von Essen each wrote forwards to “In The Line of Duty.” Von Essen donated his royalties to charity.
But there appear to be questions about where Kerik’s money went.
A previously published report stated that his royalties — which totaled over $75,000 — did not go to charity but to a company he established under the name Gryphon Strategic Group.
Former Daily News investigative reporter Russ Buettner reported in March 2005 that Kerik’s checks from HarperCollins were mailed to Giuliani Partners, the consulting firm of the former mayor, where Kerik was then working.
November 9, 2007 10:32 PM | Reply | Permalink
My parents always told me you are judged by your associates. I've found in my 60 yeas that they were oh so right.
It's incredible that rudy was a US attorney and then mayor. Doesn't anyone in New York pay attention or is this business as usual?
Maybe rudy and bush can share cells and I'm not talking cell phones. Shades of Brokeback Mountain. Pat Robertson thinks this crook is just right.
November 9, 2007 10:40 PM | Reply | Permalink
Think about it....he was Rudy's DRIVER. Rudy has a passion for indescretions (a serial philanderer as Josh says). Bernie saw many things and Rudy realized he could trust him. Its always good to have loyal men around when you're crooked -- classic. Just like Kerik said in his book,that getting on Rudy's team was like getting made in the mafia!
November 9, 2007 10:42 PM | Reply | Permalink
Right now Rudi is in a place were all his debits are actually his credits and not in a philosophical sense. Was he to become the next leader of the free world our freedoms we still have after Bush will be liquidated in no time. We would know about it after the fact. That is scary and not so far off.
Thank you biggerbox for a great laugh and Rick B, too.
November 10, 2007 12:34 AM | Reply | Permalink
Nice picture of Rudy and Bernie. Were they on the way to P-Town for a little lobster bisque?
Bernie has a nice smile with Rudy so close behind him. It should serve him well in prison.
November 10, 2007 1:07 AM | Reply | Permalink
Rudy and Kerik sittin' in a tree.
Rudy is just like Kerik...they've been covering for each other. How does a driver-body guard go so far up the ladder, especially with only a GED? What happened while driving Rudy around that could make Rudy so indebted to Kerik...especially since Kerik has been exposed as a liar, a cheat, and a thief? How could Rudy not know...and if he didn't know(which is impossible) doesn't that tell that Rudy is incompetent to the point of being a fraud?
How will the "liberal" media get him out of this one?
Pat Robertson's hero. 9/11 won't get you into heaven. Time for Rudy's pedophile archbishop to make an appearance. One can only be so blind you know.
November 10, 2007 2:12 AM | Reply | Permalink
Is Rudy LOYAL to Kerik, or has he been blackmailed by Kerik or Kerik's [supposed] mob-connected buddies to give Kerik all these jobs for which he is not qualified?
Giuliani has stretched so far for Kerik for so many jobs that I cannot believe that Rudy did all this for someone who became his buddy as a personal driver. I could believe it for a childhood friend, or perhaps for a favorite relation, but for a driver/bodyguard? C'mon!!
Even if Bernie became a close crony of Rudy as his driver/bodyguard, there must be other NYC city jobs (sinecure) that Rudy could have given Bernie with generous salaries and subsidies for perks. Why Corrections Commissioner, then Police Commissioner?
As Rudy's personal driver, Kerik was in an ideal position to help a blackmailer set up Rudy for a sexual tryst or bribe that was video/audio taped. And do mobsters have any interest in the NYC Department of Corrections, or in the NYC Police Department? I know nothing but what I have read about Giuliani & Kerik, so I have no idea whether such shenanigans ever took place.
Has any journalist or investigator ever looked at the blackmail angle?
If some of you who know the Rudy-Bernie connection better than I object that Rudy's relationship with Bernie is too warm for Bernie to have had any part in blackmailing Rudy, consider whether Rudy is arrogant enough for Kerik to have helped to set Rudy up, then convinced Rudy that he, Bernie, had been able to protect Rudy by covering up an incident to prevent a scandal.
Not offering answers here, just raising a question that seems to jump out from the circumstances of Kerik's rise. Probably I have just read too many suspense novels....
November 10, 2007 2:13 AM | Reply | Permalink
One more minor thing: he used city cops as security guards at his wedding.
Yup, he got married while having two affairs. Now *that's* creepy.
November 10, 2007 7:32 AM | Reply | Permalink
All of these charges are superficial and meaningless. Giuliani looked into Kerik's soul.
November 10, 2007 8:28 AM | Reply | Permalink
An old adage is again timely:
The acorn dosesn't fall from the tree.
Just think, the country has Bob Bullock,
(former Lt.Governor of Texas, a Democrat, and Bush
ally during Bush's term as governor), among others to thank for this mess.
Where is the Loyal Opposition when it is needed?
November 10, 2007 8:48 AM | Reply | Permalink
Perhaps, this is better:
The acron doesn't fall far from the tree.
November 10, 2007 8:50 AM | Reply | Permalink
One more time:
The acorn doesn't fall far from the tree.
Still, where is the Loyal Opposition?
November 10, 2007 8:55 AM | Reply | Permalink
What the hell is "compleat"? Can you guys spell, or is this an inside joke?
November 10, 2007 9:32 AM | Reply | Permalink
One helluva resume, Bernie.
November 10, 2007 9:54 AM | Reply | Permalink
One helluva resume, Bernie.
November 10, 2007 9:55 AM | Reply | Permalink
compleat is archaic, used for a beatles box set and a million books and websites, really.
having or exhibiting full knowledge of a particular field or skill ( archaic )
the beatles. they were musicians.
box set. like when you had all 78s in one place next to the victrola.
oh, now the tubes are slowing down; better break out the bellows.
November 10, 2007 12:04 PM | Reply | Permalink
Ha ha ha ha. Mo more postings from Rick B since Tom set him straight. I have to say that was hilarious, touting yourself as the language police and then spelling a word incorrectly. Oops!
Anyway, back to the REAL point of this posting. This Kerik clown should be the death knell for Rudy "I can fly" Giuliani's campaign. They both have the same set of "values". They are the "what's in it for me" values, totally in line with repuglican thinking but NOT what we need in our leaders.
How about we send Rudy to Rikers along with his pal?
November 10, 2007 12:12 PM | Reply | Permalink
THERE IS NO REDEMPTION FOR KERIK OR FOR RUDY
They are two peas in a pod. And as for the poster who is harping on a minor charge, who cares if some minor charge against Kerik is misguided or doesn't stick. We're smart enough to get the thrust here that Kerik is a crook who was one of Rudy's closest buddies and confidantes. Even worse, Mr. "I am never wrong" Rudy is still running around saying that on balance his decisions regarding Kerik were good ones. Sorry Rudy, for the rest of us who don't live in Rudyworld where you are obviously a legend in your own mind and the smartest guy in any room, we can see you are a joke.
And this is not just one isolated incident for Rudy. It was revealed recently over Rudy's objection that he admitted to the 9/11 Commission he was totally unprepared for terrorist attacks on 9/11. And we all know he refused to follow recommendations not to place his command center in the obvious target of the World Trade Center so it would be easier for him to walk there. We all know NYC was sick of Rudy before 9/11, and that Rudy tried to use 9/11 to extend his mayorship, just as the President is trying to use the war on terror to claim new powers.
Sorry right wingers, but Rudy is no Reagan. He is just another loud mouthed, incompetent screw up politician in the Bush mold.
November 10, 2007 1:04 PM | Reply | Permalink
*rinnng* “Hello ..."
"Yeah, hello..."
“Oh Jesus, don't tell me you're Calling ME HERE..."
“I’m not f%^kin radioactive Man BUB..."
“Nice Work asshole, really...brilliant"
“...no, no, no...You think again tough guy, you saw where and when I took them envelopes...remember looking across at Brooklyn and you laughing about the Welfare thing..."
“I wasn't there, you little Gimp, I got records from Gracey..."
“bla Bla, Jullie, you better start making some f&*kin calls and quick, gumba..."
“I’m a Gumba...listen to u, get ready for a shower u little crook..."
“uh uh, pal, If you say shower I say choir, u prick, you ain't Teflon no more"
“easy there B, u f*&kin with the wrong Candidate here..."
“yeah, watch that go up in flames and down the pipe when I get singin, call fuckin Spitzer and make it happen today, this is ..."
“no chance, he'd laugh me outta the room...u think he isn't already notching his stalk with your face u looser..."
“lotsa ways to spell looser , watch me "
“Bad things B, don't call again, watch your back and shut your mouth”
“Us both, asshole..."
*Click*
November 10, 2007 3:01 PM | Reply | Permalink
Rudy doesn't have a prostate problem.
He has an a**hole problem.
In fact, two of them.
First, Bernie. (See above.)
Second, Pat Robertson. On this one, everyone is missing the boat. Forget all the religion, etc. angles.
Follow the money, as they say.
Ol' Crazy Pat could care less about any view, belief or record Rudy has or doesn't have. As with most things about Pat, this is about the DIAMONDS! Pat has a large chunk of the African diamond pie, and that fuels most of his little empire. (What, you thought those $10 checks bought that suit?)
Rudy's (and Bernie's?) dealings in the "Security" underworld in East and Middle Asia since 2001 have made them very well connected. It wouldn't shock me if they were very connected to the entire merc underworld by now, given their respective talents for networking.
This is a arena that emerged during apartheid in South Africa, and has very deep fingers into anything military (and profitable) up and down the African continent.
We can only assume that digging into the Pat/Rudy/Security/diamond dirt would send a great many buggies crawling off in all directions.
November 10, 2007 3:03 PM | Reply | Permalink
Just a continuation of the sleaze factor.
We have the fear factor; control factor;
and none other than the sleaze factor above and beyond all the rest.
November 10, 2007 7:09 PM | Reply | Permalink
Why is the word "complete" misspelled on the front page? It says "compleat." Am I missing something or is this just a bad typo?
-
November 10, 2007 9:17 PM | Reply | Permalink
compleat is archaic, used for a beatles box set and a million books and websites, really.
------------
The Compleat Beatles (1982) was the best Beatles documentary ever.
Better than Beatles Anthology. Even though, it's only two hours long. Probably will never see a dvd release, though.
Too bad. It's great.
November 11, 2007 12:39 AM | Reply | Permalink
What were Kerik's qualifications to serve as head of Dept. Homeland Security?
In addition to being dirty, Kerik is another incompetent crony. Giuliani chose an unqualified pal, a crooked pal, to head up homeland security. Really.
November 11, 2007 2:23 AM | Reply | Permalink
TPMMuckraker has put CNN , NBC, (Fox did the same spin, just more obvious) to shame, with additional reporting on This gangsters record .
So we know Kerik was protected by Gulliani, so we need to know WHAt did Kerik do for Gulliani . No doubt they were up to something, otherwise this crook wouldn't have been protected and promoted .
I love the way CNN and the other infotainers frame the Kerik Scandal as 1. A mistake 2. Don't explain more than one scandal 3. Will Gulliani survive and how will this effect him . " It's good it happened now" " it will go away " . 4. make sure to frame it as A " mistake", when there is a hella long track record of corrupt activity .
November 11, 2007 3:05 AM | Reply | Permalink
Why does none of this suprise me in the slightest, we had a illerate crook nominated for Homeland security director and we have a half wit in the white house. Sorry for giving bush so much credit.
November 11, 2007 1:24 PM | Reply | Permalink
Your tax dollar at play, here, all
in the name of defending america, of
course, national security, and what
not, well, maybe their OWN financial
security, perhaps, but ya just gotta
wonder...fraud and corruption are on
the march in both state and federal
gummit, hopefully Congresser will
take this shining negative skinheaded
example to heart along with others
when clearly defining corruption, and
how they intend to work with the individual states in order to help them
take care of it and prevent it at the
federal level, as well. One sure-fire
remedy against public corruption is
to drastically reduce the amount of
money involved. Easier said than done,
though, because when people that are
for all practical intents and purposes
become mobsters then assume roles in
government at ANY level, all bets are
off, and it's easy to understand why
the states have just as much trouble
balancing their budgets as Washington
does if this is the type of climate
that will be tolerated. I say fire lots
more of em, clean house top-to-bottom,
states' rights are one thing, having
organized crime run our cities or
states is something else. Part of
ensuring public safety is looking at
law enforcement to ensure that there's
nothing crooked going on...thankfully
someone seems to be doing that, these
days...
November 11, 2007 2:12 PM | Reply | Permalink
Rudy looks close to orgasm in the pic at the head of the post.
November 11, 2007 4:36 PM | Reply | Permalink
This guy sounds like he deserves the Presidential Medal of Freedom!
November 12, 2007 5:07 PM | Reply | Permalink
Guilani was committed to lowering the crime rate in New York. Unless, of course the criminals were close friends, it seems.
November 12, 2007 7:40 PM | Reply | Permalink
so. . .where is Jake D in all of this, I miss his comments on how this is all liberal slander. . .
November 12, 2007 10:14 PM | Reply | Permalink
HEY C'MON " BERNIE " IS ONE OF THE GOOD OLE BOY'S ,,,, ONLY IN MODERN TIMES !!!
November 27, 2007 7:53 PM | Reply | Permalink
The caption to that "Rudy
"I love you JohnnyCakes."
May 5, 2008 1:14 PM | Reply | Permalink