Background
Bernard Kerik worked as a police investigator and briefly as Rudolph Giuliani’s driver when he was the mayor of New York. He later oversaw the administration of the city’s prison system and police force (Broughton, 2022). George W. Bush recommended selecting Kerik as the US Secretary of Homeland Security in 2004, when the entire country viewed him as one of the heroes of the tragic events of September 11.
Kerik was regarded as one of the September 11 heroes because he was in charge of the New York Police Department at the time, which, in the opinion of all, was instrumental in saving people from the collapsed World Trade Center buildings and mitigating the effects of the terrorist attack. Kerik received numerous compliments on his deft movements and competent management of the rescue effort (Alschuler, 2022). Then, US President George W. Bush proposed him for the position of director of the Department of Homeland Security.
When an audit found that Kerik had misled federal authorities when answering a question concerning corruption concerns, he was compelled to resign from the position before taking it. Kerik himself withdrew his name from consideration after being charged with tax fraud and having extramarital affairs. Rudolph Giuliani was, however, affected by his legal issues in 2008 when he was unable to get the Republican Party’s backing to be nominated for president (Broughton, 2022). According to the prosecutor’s office, the former commissioner of the New York police recommended a construction company for contracts with the city of New York in exchange for free repairs to his residence. He is also charged with tax evasion.
Investigation
The court found that Kerik gave false information about himself during the audit, which he passed as a possible contender for the position of Minister of Internal Security. He also acknowledged taking a bribe in exchange for awarding a construction company a city contract (Alschuler, 2022). Kerik’s flat in the exclusive New York suburb of Riverdale underwent renovation, and as payment for the kickback, it received a new kitchen, marble bathrooms, and a Jacuzzi. A quarter of a million dollars will be spent on repairs. In addition, Kerik acknowledged that he failed to record a taxable income of more than $500,000, which he had received between 1999 and 2004.
When the ex-policeman was nominated for the position of Minister of National Security in 2004, the White House personnel checked his candidacy and were purposefully misled (Alschuler, 2022). This position was made available to the best cop in the USA, as he was known in the American media, following George Bush’s reelection as president. Kerik abruptly withdrew his campaign, citing his housekeeper’s infraction of immigration restrictions as the reason.
According to the current investigation, had Kerik accepted the minister’s position, information regarding his improper relationships with contractors would have come to light earlier. In 2004, the White House staff members who checked him only once again noted Kerik’s honesty and added that he had earned two medals for his sterling service in the police for good reason (Broughton, 2022). Giving false testimony to federal services that examined Kerik’s file before his potential appointment to the position of Minister of Internal Security was one of the accusations on which the verdict was rendered.
Outcome
After the catastrophe of September 11, 2001, Bernard Kerik, who once oversaw the New York City police department and was hailed as a hero, received a four-year prison term. The decision was made public by federal judge Stephen Robinson during a court proceeding in White Plains, New York (Alschuler, 2022). Kerik entered a guilty plea to eight charges, including tax evasion and defrauding the White House administration, in November.
Federal Judge Stephen Robinson remarked that Kerik, 54, used the September 11 attacks for both personal and professional reasons. Kerik entered a guilty plea as part of a compromise with the law, which allowed him to avoid receiving the harshest punishment possible—up to 61 years in jail (Alschuler, 2022). However, the judge imposed a stiffer punishment than even the prosecution had hoped for; they had requested that the defendant serve between 27 and 33 months in jail.
The previous police chief’s actions during the investigation—he attempted to leak the details of the closed case by giving it to the media—also impacted the severity of the sentencing. Even if these materials were provided to the Washington Times newspaper, which did not print them, the court characterized the court’s attempt at disclosure as a flagrant breach of the law. Additionally, Kerik must pay 188,000 dollars in penalties and delinquent taxes for the years 1999 to 2003 (Alschuler, 2022).
The prosecution demanded a minimal prison sentence for the former police chief in exchange for his full guilty plea. According to the terms of the investigation, the prosecutor’s office only requested that Kerik serve 27 to 33 months in prison (Broughton, 2022). However, Judge Robinson stated during a court hearing on Thursday that Kerik’s crimes merited a more severe punishment because he is a high-ranking police officer who is required to serve the public. As a result, she imposed a term of 4 years in prison.
References
Alschuler, A. W. (2022). The corruption of the pardon power. University of St. Thomas Law Journal, 18(1), 1-42.
Broughton, Z. J. (2022). Constitutional law — loyalty, money, money, and business: The new price for a presidential pardon. Western New England Law Review, 44(2), 259-292.