Apr 1, 2007 4:47 pm US/Eastern
Sources: Kerik Hoping For Plea Deal
May Face Charges Of Tax Evasion, Conspiracy
by Andrew Kirtzman
NEW YORK (CBS) ―
Sources tell CBS 2 that former NYPD Commissioner Bernard Kerik is engaged in a last-ditch effort to stave off federal charges of tax evasion and conspiracy to commit wiretapping. Earlier Saturday, Kerik rejected a plea deal from the feds that would have sent him to jail.
The political world is buzzing about the potential damage this could cause to old boss Rudy Giuliani's presidential run. Giuliani and Kerik are longtime allies and business partners. Giuliani reportedly told a grand jury that he may have been alerted years ago to some of Kerik's misbehavior.
"It's not just that he appointed Kerik and later found out there were problems," political consultant Joseph Mercurio said. "It seems like he knew there were problems before he appointed him."
Giuliani has been hit with a string of unflattering stories recently, many about his family situation. Mercurio said this won't help.
"It's another shadowy thing on his character and his judgment," Mercurio said.
In a phone conversation with CBS 2, Kerik said he's still hoping to avoid prosecution.
"There's a process. We're working with the U.S. attorney's office, and we're hopeful for a positive outcome," Kerik said.
The charges stem from Kerik's association with a company that has been fighting allegations of mob connections.
He's also in hot water over his work for former Westchester County District Attorney Jeanine Pirro, who hired Kerik to spy on her husband.
Giuliani is not believed to be under investigation.
Kerik's problems led him to withdraw his nomination as head of the Department of Homeland Security in 2004. A year and a half later he pleaded guilty to state charges that he accepted tens of thousands of dollars in gifts while serving as a city official. He had to pay more than $200,000 in fines.
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