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Kerik Whined to Alleged Bribers: I Feel Like I'm on "Welfare"
Here's one for the annals of not-so-subtle requests for bribes by public officials. The heart of the indictment against Bernard Kerik focuses on the fact that he accepted $255,000 worth of apartment renovations from Interstate Industrial Corporation (called XYZ in the indictment) while the company was seeking business from the city.
Interstate's problem was that they were suspected of ties to the Gambino crime family. City investigators were on the case, and if they discovered mob ties, game over: no city contracts. So Kerik, having asked Interstate if they could pay for renovations to his apartment (keep in mind, Kerik ran the city's department of corrections at the time), sat down with investigators to discuss Interstate.
He told them that no way was Interstate mobbed up. He added: "If I thought Interstate was mobbed up, do you think I'd let my brother work there?"
But in the indictment, prosecutors reveal an email that shows Kerik was just doing what he'd been paid to do. And having done his job so well "without question," he clearly thought he was owed more:
Shortly after attending this meeting, BERNARD B. KERIK sent [an Interstate employee] an email explaining that "I put my reputation and integrity on the line defending whatever [the Interstate employee] asked without question." (Emphasis in original). Later in that same email, KERIK complained that he felt like he was on "welfare" as compared to the life-style [the Interstate employee] lived. He explained that: "I'm walking on eggshells until this apartment is done. A bullshit $170,000., [sic] I had to beg, borrow and [expletive] for the down payment and I'm still [expletive] over the $5,000. [sic] I need for closing if it happens. Then the renovations."
Translation: I sold my integrity, but I'm still in the poor house. Give me more.
The fourteen count indictment adds up to a max of 142 years in prison and $4.75 million in fines. In addition to the "Theft of Honest Services" counts, which are basically bribery charges, the feds are after him for a whole lot of tax fraud (for which they've provided a handy chart here), and also making a number of false statements to the federal government when he was applying to head up the Department of Homeland Security. The infamous nanny, surely the least of Kerik's transgressions, are among the charged lies. Kerik has pleaded not guilty.
Comments (21)
ihatebeets wrote on November 9, 2007 1:46 PM:Does anybody have an idea of when this will come to trial?
litigatormom wrote on November 9, 2007 1:58 PM:This is the man that St. Rudy of 9/11 would have had become the Secretary of Homeland Security.
Not just a thief, but a whiny, self-pitying one.
Amazing.
michael valentine wrote on November 9, 2007 2:07 PM:So Bernard is different from the rest of the Bush anomalies, er nominees how?
Anonymous wrote on November 9, 2007 2:24 PM:Why is that the photo accompanying this story makes me really uncomfortable? Something about the sweater - mustache - reaching around - etc...
OxyCon wrote on November 9, 2007 2:25 PM:Is now a good time to start pushing the story about Benito Giuliani's child rapist friend?
freddy wrote on November 9, 2007 2:25 PM:I can hear McCain now...
"There is nothing wrong with remaining loyal to your friends. It's admirable that Mr. Giuliani stands by Mr. Kerik. I do, however, think it would be better for the country if they remained friends outside of the White House..."
Noam Sane wrote on November 9, 2007 2:27 PM:Question: according to the indictment, at the time Kerik removed himself for consideration as head of DHS, the feds had all the goods on him - the bribery, the lying, the tax fraud, the obstruction of justice. Is it possible that they did not inform President Bush of their findings well before Kerik bailed?
No, it's not possible.
Should Bush have shared this information with the American people? I'm not sure of the etiquette involved, but I'd say, yes. Especially when Kerik's lame excuse for bowing out was nanny/tax issues - a baldfaced lie to the very public that Bush wanted to entrust him to serve.
Another case of honor and dignity from the Bush White House.
John Rowland wrote on November 9, 2007 2:28 PM:Retired New York City detective and worked with bagman and knew of others in City government .All always had a blank check and were promoted well beyond their skills and background .Bernie was Rudy' " Bagman " and Bush wanted Bernie as his Homeland Security " Bagman ".Keep in mind if Bernie had got that job Rudy's companies would have got tons of Homeland Security contracts .
John Rowland wrote on November 9, 2007 2:37 PM:Thinking like a detective now Kerik is a Libby, Jr. and the Feds do not consider him their main target .Take it to the bank he has criminal information about both Rudy and Bush . Not too farfetched another style Libby amnesty deal.
Jay wrote on November 9, 2007 2:39 PM:Wait just a g0ddamn minute. If Kerik is up to his neck in all manner of skullduggery, why isn't anyone investigating Giuliani?
If Kerik is alleged to be "mobbed up," why wouldn't Giuliani be? Because he was a US Attorney?
I bet if someone started digging they might find some interesting connections between Giuliani and the mob. One man's prosecution is another man's acquisition of turf.
OxyCon wrote on November 9, 2007 2:40 PM:Well, one good thing you can say about Kerik is, he wasn't raping little boys like Benito Giuliani's other BFF.
John Rowland wrote on November 9, 2007 2:45 PM:As a New York City detective did much work with Queens FBI Office agents many years .Yes we worked corrupt bagman but they were stepping stones to our main targets politicians. Bernie has caught sixteen counts so to flip him. Promise you he is not the main target of the Feds just the easiest one to take down and try flipping. I do not kid we got another Libby .
John Rowland wrote on November 9, 2007 2:50 PM:Josh email me at johnrowland@webtv.net I worked on some of Rudy's Organised Crime pals but to hot to discuss here .
John Rowland wrote on November 9, 2007 3:02 PM:The key now is for some very important people to stop Bernie from flipping that is the whole nut now .We got another Libby who cannot be allowed to be flipped . Tell you from detective experience 'Bagmen " know all.What happens if his trial goes down after Bush's term is over. Then no amnesty and he flips big time .
John Rowland wrote on November 9, 2007 3:29 PM:Inform you from police detective experience the Kerik arrest is huge explosive. Bernie knows all I assure you.Almost know the upcoming scenario he cannot be allowed to flip period .Remind you " Bagmen " are gold mines of criminal information and deadly witnesses.They have above average memories and are great communicators . That is what makes a good bagman . But finally they are mind boggling careless therefore Bernie's ass is locked up .
John Rowland wrote on November 9, 2007 3:40 PM:You quickly learn as a detective it is not the cases the District Attorneys prosecute which are important but rather the cases they bury and not prosecute due to politics , corruption or both . So it wil be interesting how Kerik's case plays out.Fixes can be put in to cause mistrials too. So games will be in play with Kerik's case he knows too much .Yes another Libby but will Bush be in office when Bernie is found guilty to shut his lips via amnesty ? As you see I enjoy all this stuff bring back my detective days .
nrglaw wrote on November 9, 2007 5:53 PM:ihatebeets--Six months, give or take. There are speedy trial requirements that make it necessary to bring the case to trial or lose it.
nrglaw wrote on November 9, 2007 6:01 PM:If anyone else is interested in the speedy trial stuff, here is a link to the USA manual on the subject.
http://www.usdoj.gov/usao/eousa/foia_reading_room/usam/title9/crm00628.htm
tony cruz wrote on November 10, 2007 4:15 AM:giulliani does not care if kerik is corrupt, As long as he stay loyal to him.
John Rowland wrote on November 10, 2007 10:58 AM:The Feds got 2500 wiretap hours of Bernie's phone conversations . That tells they were and are looking at bigger targets. Bernie was Rudy's " Bagman " and he wanted Bernie to run Homeland Security to pull down contracts from them for his company. Bush simply wanted Bernie as his " Bagman " for his poverty pimping lobbyist Homeland Security .
John Rowland wrote on November 10, 2007 1:03 PM:Assure you the Feds did not do 2500 hours of wiretaps on Bernie just to burn him .Bernie is a classical " Bagman "who is loaded with criminal information the Feds want to squeeze out of him.If a " Bagman " flips the house falls in on the main ballplayers . Wonder how many times Rudy and Bush show up on those 2500 hours of wiretaps.Think we got another Libby 2 here .