Oct 23, 2009 3:29 pm US/Eastern
Ex-NYPD Commisioner Kerik's Trial Postponed
WHITE PLAINS (CBS) ―
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Bernard Kerik's mug shot.
CBS
The corruption trial of former New York police Commissioner Bernard Kerik has been postponed.
The trial had been scheduled to begin with jury selection on Monday. But the U.S. attorney's office announced an adjournment Friday. No new date was set.
No reason was given for the delay. Kerik's lawyers are preparing an appeal of the order that sent Kerik to jail on Tuesday. Federal Judge Stephen Robinson ruled that Kerik improperly shared secret pretrial information.
Kerik is accused of accepting renovations to his Bronx co-op in exchange for recommending a company that wanted to do business with New York City. The company was being investigated for alleged ties to organized crime.
Kerik is also accused of concealing the gift from investigators.
Judge Stephen Robinson ordered Kerik to jail after he said he could not find another way to keep Kerik from trying to contaminate witnesses and the potential jury pool.
"Mr. Kerik, if left to his own devices, will obstruct justice," the judge said. "My fear is that he has a toxic combination of self-minded focus and arrogance, and I fear that combination leads him to believe that his ends justify his means."
"Mr. Kerik's not special," the judge said at another point. "He thinks he is."
Defense attorney Barry Berke said he would appeal the ruling and seek a stay. Robinson denied a request to keep Kerik out of jail pending the appeal.
Kerik was police commissioner when terrorists crashed jetliners into the two World Trade Center towers on Sept. 11, 2001. He and then-Mayor Rudolph Giuliani received glowing reviews for their leadership in the crisis. Kerik was later President George W. Bush's pick to lead the Department of Homeland Security, but withdrew as corruption allegations mounted.
Kerik's trial is scheduled to begin Monday with jury selection. He is accused of accepting apartment renovations from a construction company in exchange for recommending the company for city contracts. He has pleaded not guilty.
Kerik faces a second trial on tax charges, and a third that claims he lied to White House officials vetting him for the position of Homeland Security chief.
Kerik was the NYPD Commissioner from 2000 to 2001.
(© 2009 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. The Associated Press contributed to this report.)
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