Posted on 11/05/2007 8:15:41 PM PST by Pistolshot
MANCHESTER, N.H. — Rudy Giuliani began to recast his public persona Monday in New Hampshire by pointing voters to his pre-Sept. 11 record, but the former New York City mayor first had to fend off questions about the mounting investigation into former New York Police Commissioner Bernard Kerik. Kerik, who Giuliani once pushed to lead the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, is under investigation on what could be multiple felony charges.
Giuliani said he hadn't spoken lately to his friend and one-time business partner and had no idea what implication a Kerik indictment or plea deal could have on his presidential campaign. But the Republican presidential candidate stood by Kerik's record in New York while Giuliani was mayor. "I think Bernie Kerik, I should have checked out more carefully. I've said that. I've apologized for it. But the reality is we brought down crime in record proportions, we brought down violence in the prisons by record proportions," Giuliani said during a campaign stop at a pizza parlor in Manchester, N.H.
"But when you look at the combination of the mistakes and the correct decisions I've made, I think if I made the same balance of those decisions as president of the United States, the country would be in great shape," he continued. Giuliani has accepted responsibility for his role in Kerik's embarrassing 2004 withdrawal as President Bush's Homeland Security nominee after revelation of tax problems.
Ethics questions and corruption allegations also swirled around Kerik at the time. Federal prosecutors in New York have spent more than a year pursuing criminal charges against him, reportedly including bribery, tax evasion, obstruction of justice, providing false information and conspiracy to eavesdrop. Kerik rejected a plea deal in the spring, but meetings have continued.
(Excerpt) Read more at foxnews.com ...
Is it just me or does this scare the he!! out of you?
Kerik was tied in with the Mafia, and with all sorts of shady confidence and bribery schemes, which is why he is now working in the ME.
Why Rudy pushed him into the public eye, supporting him as Chief of Homeland Security with RNC help,is a complete mystery. It was a mistake that will cost him his candidacy ultimately. Who would want to vote for a candidate who is assailed by a history of defective political judgement, and mistaken sang froid? Kerik would have franchised his New York shady dealings nationally as Director of Homeland Security, so was Rudy motivated by greed?I wonder what VP Cheny would have to say on the subject?
Go Duncan Hunter, 2008!
Rudy is going to have to do a real song and dance to get out of this one, but the statement I highlighted is what concerns me the most.
He’ll say anything he thinks will work for him.
Does anyone really want this guy with his finger on the button?
Come on people their administration brought down criminal activity in record proportions. This is so Clinton like. Aside from all this crime talk Rudy is running such a positive campaign.
Giuliani connived to foist Kerik on the Nation as Homeland/Sec/Secy b/c Kerik would have wholesale access to FBI files.
Kerik's surveillance of FBI files---turning over useful info to Giuliani----- would materially advance Power-Mad Giuliani's political ambitions.
"Me-First Giuliani" also connived to shield himself from the fact that he had knowledge of, but ignored, Kerik’s filthiness. "I was not informed of it,” "Save-My-Rear Giuliani" lied when asked if he had been warned about mobbed-up Kerik when he appointed Kerik to the top NYC police post in 2000.
But "Security Expert Giuliani" had tripped up royally trying to save himself, and was forced to amend the statement last year in testimony to a state grand jury.
"Forgetful Giuliani" the security expert said that neither he nor any of his aides could recall being briefed about Kerik’s mob involvements.
"Me-First Giuliani" was forced to acknowledge that the city investigations commissioner, Edward J. Kuriansky, had told him that Kerik was mob-connected at least once.
But a review of Mr. Kuriansky’s diaries, and investigators’ notes from a 2004 interview with Giuliani indicate that such a session indeed took place.
Even more significant:
According to Kuriansky’s diaries compiled at the time (plus Kuriansky's later recollection to investigators), Kuriansky recalled briefing Giuliani’s closest aides about Kerik’s dirty entanglements just days before Giuliani promoted his chauffeur, Kerik, (the man who knows where all of Giuliani's bodies are buried) to be the city's top cop.
Just watch; the Republican Party will continue to "stand by" this presidential candidate, and then of course, lose.
No Rudy, what you did is allow Bernie Kerik to put his associates competition out of business.
WINNER!!!!!
We can count on Fox News to cover this.
And now Pat Robertson is supporting tRudy?
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