Posted on 12/10/2004 8:09:32 PM PST by Jeff Head
In a surprise move, former New York Police Commissioner Bernard Kerik abruptly withdrew his nomination as President Bush (news - web sites)'s choice to be homeland security secretary Friday night, saying questions have arisen about the immigration status of a housekeeper and nanny he employed.
The decision caught the White House off guard and sent Bush in search of a new candidate to run the sprawling bureaucracy of more than 180,000 employees melded together from 22 disparate federal agencies in 2003.
Kerik informed Bush of his decision to withdraw in a telephone call at 8:30 p.m. EST. "I am convinced that, for personal reasons, moving forward would not be in the best interests of your administration, the Department of Homeland Security or the American people," Kerik said in a letter to the president.
The White House said Bush accepted Kerik's decision.
One administration official helping prepare Kerik for Senate confirmation, speaking on condition of anonymity, said Kerik's unexpected decision shocked senior leaders at the Homeland Security Department. This official said Kerik still had not filled out all his ethics filings — which would detail his sources of income and financial liabilities — and said the FBI (news - web sites) background investigation of Kerik was still incomplete.
But the only moderately troubling information uncovered about Kerik so far was news that Kerik had earned $6.2 million by exercising stock options he received from Taser International, which did lucrative business with the Department of Homeland Security, this official said.
Kerik said the problematic issue arose as he was completing documents required for Senate confirmation. "I uncovered information that now leads me to question the immigration status of a person who had been in my employ as a housekeeper and nanny. It has also been brought to my attention that for a period of time during such employment required tax payments and related filings had not been made."
Kerik said he feared that the disclosure of the issue would generate intense scrutiny that would "only serve as a significant and unnecessary distraction to the vital efforts of the Department of Homeland Security."
EXCELLENT FIND! There is a strange thesis advanced by some on this site that the "Left" was after Kerik. NYT, etc., yes. However, a number of Liberal elites LOVED HIM -- and for good reason if one takes the blinders off to look closely at his policies and comments (and local reporting on him) over the years. Count me among the conservatives in NYC who knew him (and Giuliani) all too well -- and all of the scandals behind Kerik, who wondered whether the WH had done its homework.
Not even close. ANY NYC local would know that the local press (in particular some of the obscure rags only locals tend to follow) has been filled with stories for years about not one but several diverse ugly rumors not yet surfaced nationally. I could list them all for you, but wouldn't. IF (that's a big IF) just one proved true, it would have meant a big headache for the Admin. Shame on the White House for not doing their homework. A simple Lexis-Nexis search -- or talking to someone from NY not blowing hot air -- instead of cruising on the web or talking to Giuliani (who stood to profit HUGE from the move) might have helped...
Is it about taxes or illegal status?
What a shame. He would have been good for the job.
BUMP! Blackbird.
Read Posts 32 and 38. That about sums it up.
"I have a hangnail" would have been more compelling.
Merry Christmas to you to AuntB, may the true Spirit of the Season, His Spirit be with you and yours.
As long as Mineta continues his "no terrorist left behind" approach to transportation security the DHS job will be an extremely difficult one.
Apparently he's not.
About Kerik's Syrian wife ...
Good point. The thought crossed my mind when he was appointed, then I forgot about it. I shouldn't have.
It's a completely valid concern.
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