Posted on 05/17/2010 12:51:08 PM PDT by nickcarraway
Watched "Rocky Balboa" with his daughters before heading out
Former NYPD top cop Bernard Kerik has reported to a prison in Maryland to begin a four-year sentence.
Kerik pleaded guilty in November to tax fraud, lying to the White House and other criminal charges.
Bureau of Prison spokeswoman Felicia Ponce said Kerik surrendered at about 1:45 p.m. Monday at the Federal Correctional Institution in Cumberland, Md.
In a statement dated Sunday on his website, the former 9/11 hero said he could not remain silent "in the face of what I believe has been a grave injustice." He said he pleaded guilty to eight felonies in November because he was "financially helpless" and could have spent a year behind bars just awaiting trial.
Kerik's steely resolve as he stood with his mentor, Mayor Rudolph Giuliani, won him worldwide fame after the 2001 terror attacks. His career peaked three years later when he was nominated by President George W. Bush to lead the Department of Homeland Security.
While he was being vetted, however, questions were raised about his finances and associations, and he bowed out of the nomination. He later admitted in court that he lied when he denied having any financial dealings with anyone doing business with New York City.
When he was sentenced in February, federal Judge Stephen Robinson said Kerik had used 9/11 "for personal gain and aggrandizement." The judge went beyond federal sentencing guidelines, which suggested two to three years in prison, because of what he called "the almost operatic proportions of this case."
Kerik's new statement expressed disappointment with the judge, the prosecutors and the sentence and said he hoped it would be "remedied by an appellate court."
He said he hoped God would return him to his wife and his 7- and 10-year-old daughters "much sooner rather than later."
Kerik said he watched the movie "Rocky Balboa" with his daughters to illustrate "the principles of courage, strength and perseverance."
He said he told the girls, "It is time to move forward." After his sentencing, Kerik apologized to the nation and said he hoped history would take into account the "30 years of service I've given to the country and the city of New York."
In a television interview last month, Kerik said he stopped speaking with Giuliani in 2006, as the former mayor began running for president, to protect him. He added, however, "We will be friends for life."
If anyone deserves a pardon, it is him.
Amen to that.
Ping
Serious miscarriage of justice. The sentence is totally disproportionate with the “crime” and they didn’t take into account his distinguished service.
He should have had to pay a fine and gotten probation or community service.
I hope he will appeal and has his sentence reduced. The judge was clearly biased against him.
THIS is the cop you choose to defend???
I wholeheartedly disagree. Kerick got the sentence he deserved. Corruption is still corruption.
I really wish Fox News was based in Houston or Omaha so we wouldn't have to see such schmucks giving commentary.
Why, he’s not a EMOrat, he’s not allowed to get away with.
Anyone who is familiar with his track record will tell you otherwise.
Since when is lying to the White House a crime?
I have to listen to White House lies all of the time, so why shouldn’t they have to listen to mine?
Because you are a serf. Now get back to work and pay your takes!
Lying to the White House is a crime? If the reverse of that logic is true, Obama should be eligible for Capitol Punishment.
Someone in the Bush administration should be sitting in jail with him . . . for being dumb enough to nominate this hack without vetting him thoroughly.
Now, that's justice Baby!
Why? He stomped on the bill of rights every time he got a chance, he gets no pity from me!
I feel very badly about this. When the Daschles, Geithners, Bergers get away with crimes against this country and their is no justice whatsoever. If Kerik was committed of a crime, then so be it. But justicve has not been well served. and I do take his service into account. I wish him well and hope for an early release for good behavior. Stay safe Bernie and I hope your life can be restored once this is behind you.
I wonder how many sitting in Congresss haven’t doen the same thing only much worse? I do think he should be pardoned.
It would be nice if Congress was judged by the same legal standards as the rest of us, but alas...
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