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Nov 10, 2007 12:20 am US/Eastern
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Sharks Circling Giuliani Over Kerik Debacle
Opponents Let Loose On Former Mayor's Judgment
NEW YORK (CBS) ―
On Friday Bernard Kerik surrendered to federal authorities on a 16-count indictment, including charges of conspiracy and corruption.
Now it's just a matter of time before we all see how much this case could plays a role in the race for president.
It was a courthouse drama that reverberated through the presidential race.
"This is a battle I'm going to fight," Kerik said.
Kerik, who served as Rudy Giuliani's police commissioner and business partner, pleaded not guilty to corruption charges carrying 142 years in prison time.
"It is a sad day when this office turns an indictment against a former law enforcement official, particularly one who served positions as high as Bernard Kerik," U.S. Attorney Michael Garcia said
Prosecutors unveiled $500,000 in gifts Kerik allegedly received. They detailed the lies he allegedly told to conceal the income from the IRS.
Giuliani was clear across the country Friday, but with less than two months to the Iowa caucuses, the Republican front-runner is facing criticism for promoting Kerik to a series of powerful jobs.
On Friday, Sen. John McCain attacked Giuliani over Kerik's performance training the Iraqi police.
"He stayed a couple of months, got up and left," McCain said. "That should have been part of anybody's judgment before they would recommend that individual to be head of the Department of Homeland Security."
Giuliani has responded this week by apologizing for pushing President Bush to nominate Kerik as homeland security chief.
His campaign had his supporters out in force Friday, casting the indictment as no big deal.
"Maybe the press is interested in those things but I think what the American people are focusing on is his record of accomplishment," former NYC Deputy Mayor Randy Mastro said.
But voters are still taking their measure of the candidates in this wide-open race.
And critics like former Mayor Ed Koch are smelling blood.
"Judgment! It's all a question of judgment and Rudy's judgment is flawed," Koch said.
Giuliani has admitted that he was briefed about some of Kerik's troubles before he named him police commissioner. The candidate says he can't recall what he was told in those briefings.
But it's opened him up to criticism not just of his judgment, but of his credibility as well.
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