Giuliani’s Criminal Pal

2:29 pm EST August 4th, 2006 | Politics, Republicans | Comments Off

Bernie Kerik is not just some guy Rudy Giuliani knows. This is his pal, who he pulled up through the NYC power structure with him. It was on Giuliani’s recommendation that Bush nominated him for DHS chief. Come around 2008, this relationship needs looking into.

Former Police Commissioner Bernard B. Kerik
is under federal investigation for possible financial improprieties
unrelated to the crimes he pleaded guilty to last month in state court,
two law enforcement officials said yesterday.

The
federal investigation began about a year ago and has focused on a
foundation affiliated with the city’s Department of Correction during
Mr. Kerik’s tenure as its commissioner, from 1998 to 2000, according to
one of the officials, both of whom spoke on the condition of anonymity.
Mr. Kerik later served as police commissioner from August 2000 to
December 2001.

Last month, Mr. Kerik pleaded guilty to two
misdemeanors in State Supreme Court in the Bronx. Under an agreement
that allowed him to avoid jail time and a felony conviction, he
admitted accepting $165,000 in apartment renovations from a company
accused of having ties to organized crime; he agreed to pay $221,000 in
fines.