Kerik headed for indictment?

Posted: Wednesday, March 14, 2007 3:22 PM by Mark Murray
Filed Under: Republicans

From NBC's Bob Windrem
In what could hardly be good news for Rudy Guiliani's presidential hopes, his former police commissioner Bernard Kerik appears headed for an indictment, Jonathan Dienst of WNBC reports. Kerik has turned down a guilty plea that would have included federal jail time, Dienst says. The next step is up to federal prosecutors; Kerik has already pleaded guilty to state charges.

Here's part of Dienst's report: "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."

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Comments

LOL

Desmond (Sent Wednesday, March 14, 2007 3:39 PM)

And Bush put Kerik up for the initial HSA head guy. What a great judge of character Bush must be.

Greg R, Spokane, WA (Sent Wednesday, March 14, 2007 3:43 PM)

I think it was Ed Meese, or maybe Caligula, who said..roughly, "...well you must have done something wrong or the Cops wouldn't be talking to ya..."

Steve Turner Cedar Falls Iowa (Sent Wednesday, March 14, 2007 3:52 PM)

"How SWEEEET It Is!"-Jackie Gleason

Still Crazy After All These Years (Sent Wednesday, March 14, 2007 4:17 PM)

Imagine a corrupt politician or public official being in New York. I'm shocked, shocked

American Idle (Sent Wednesday, March 14, 2007 4:35 PM)

"Priceless"-Tv Commercial

Still Crazy After All These Years (Sent Wednesday, March 14, 2007 4:37 PM)

Went to the link above-"News Channel 4 first reported Kerik and former Westchester County District Atty Jeanine Pero were under federal investigation for allegedly trying to record Pirro's husband having an affair with another woman on his boat. Pirro and Kerik's phone conversations were recorded discussing the alleged scheme at a time when Kerik's phone was tapped in the separate criminal probe.". I was looking back to see if you were looking back when I was looking back at you. Wonder if Alex G. Bell is rolling over in his grave.

M.E., Albany, Ga. (Sent Wednesday, March 14, 2007 4:46 PM)

Following up on Greg from Spokane, I clearly remember Bush announcing Kerik's nomination thusly: I know Bernie Kerik, and "he's a good man."

Sobby, Santa Cruz, CA (Sent Wednesday, March 14, 2007 5:07 PM)

This is off post, but I just heard that Senator John sununu, republican, New Hampshire, wants gonzales fired. Senator sununu is a Conservative Republican, just like his Daddy.

Desmond (Sent Wednesday, March 14, 2007 5:34 PM)

Pssst, hey, ah.....GOP types; Ya' still want Rudy as your man in '08?' (smile)

J. Merle Stanley, Westchester, NY (Sent Thursday, March 15, 2007 10:53 AM)

J. Nerle - I sure hope they still want him as their man in '08, cause then it is a sure fired win for the democratic candidate (no matter if it is Obamma, Clinton, Edwards or Richardson)cause with the exception of die hard repugnants, no one in the south will support him, kind of hard to thump the Bible for a man who was married and engaged at the same time. Actually, a Rudy, Fred Thompson ticket would be pretty funny - they have more in common than most think, including that marriage and kids thing.

Melba Isom, White Bluff, TN (Sent Thursday, March 15, 2007 11:15 AM)

You know I think this has been a great couple of weeks for the good ol' GOP!! Newt admits his affair, Scooter is found guilty, the US Attorney firings, and now this. All we need now is to see the DC Madame's list of "customers", and this could be better than any drama seen on TV.

MM (Sent Thursday, March 15, 2007 12:08 PM)

I'm still LOL over this story.

Desmond (Sent Thursday, March 15, 2007 3:19 PM)

I think he's got a pardon application up his sleeve.

MB (Sent Thursday, March 15, 2007 3:28 PM)

I say go Guiliani/Kerik '08 After all it was Guiliani who said he was told the WTC towers were going to fall before they did and it was Kerik who found a passport of the 9-11 Hijacker on the street in NY after the 9-11 attacks. We need this type of leadership to continue the legacy we now have in Washington D.C.

Dean Pallozzi, Morrison, CO (Sent Thursday, March 15, 2007 3:39 PM)

Sure is a good thing he was found to be of questionable character before he was confirmed as Homeland Security Chief. He probably would have used the Patriot act to claim he was protecting his colleague from a cheating spouse "terrorist".

Robert Catalano, Salem, OR (Sent Thursday, March 15, 2007 4:11 PM)

I looked into his soul & saw the kinda Corrupt individual I was looking for.

rick,ky (Sent Thursday, March 15, 2007 4:45 PM)

Is Dean P. kidding us? He really should do some research and see what the real Guiliani is. He's not the good guy Dean thinks he is.

Judy Walsh, Holyoke, MA (Sent Thursday, March 15, 2007 5:22 PM)

I hope Dean was being sarcastic, that was my impression.

Scott Misinterpreted Once in South Texas (Sent Thursday, March 15, 2007 5:50 PM)

DP - CO I pondered what you wrote about Kerik finding a passport belonging to one of the terrorists who was on a plane that crashed into the WTC. Didn't seem possible to me that a passport could survive a fire so hot it melted steel. I went to Google and typed in "terrorist passport found at WTC" and up popped several sites. Apparently two passports were found, both in good condition, even though one was from a terrorist in the plane that had crased into the North Tower and was completely immersed in that bldg. Concrete crumbled to dust, steel beams melted, but passports survived. Interesting.

Francie, WA state (Sent Friday, March 16, 2007 12:52 AM)

Rudy's ship is sinking fast...joining McCain on the Republican Titanic... BLISS!

Murton Edelstein (Sent Friday, March 16, 2007 2:26 AM)

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