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| Ex-NY police chief denies charges | |
| (29 minutes later) | |
| Former New York City police chief Bernard Kerik has pleaded not guilty to federal corruption and tax charges. | |
| Mr Kerik, the city's top police officer at the time of the 9/11 terror attacks, was indicted by a federal grand jury. | Mr Kerik, the city's top police officer at the time of the 9/11 terror attacks, was indicted by a federal grand jury. |
| He has been charged with 14 offences, including fraud, obstructing an FBI investigation and lying to the federal government, a US attorney said. | He has been charged with 14 offences, including fraud, obstructing an FBI investigation and lying to the federal government, a US attorney said. |
| The matter is awkward for presidential hopeful Rudy Giuliani, who backed Mr Kerik to run Homeland Security in 2004. | The matter is awkward for presidential hopeful Rudy Giuliani, who backed Mr Kerik to run Homeland Security in 2004. |
| Mr Kerik withdrew his name from consideration only a few days later, after he was accused of failing to pay taxes on a nanny and of having extramarital affairs. | |
| Mr Giuliani has repeatedly said he made a mistake in endorsing his ally and former business partner's nomination, but correspondents say it remains to be seen how much the link damages him politically. | |
| He will be under additional pressure in the run-up to the primary elections, which start in less than two months, in which states choose their preferred presidential nominee. | He will be under additional pressure in the run-up to the primary elections, which start in less than two months, in which states choose their preferred presidential nominee. |
| 'Sad day' | 'Sad day' |
| The federal investigation on the current charges arose after Mr Kerik pleaded guilty last year in a state court to accepting $160,000 of work on his home from an allegedly mafia-related construction firm. | The federal investigation on the current charges arose after Mr Kerik pleaded guilty last year in a state court to accepting $160,000 of work on his home from an allegedly mafia-related construction firm. |
| The issue is what the whole Kerik debacle does to relations between President George W Bush and Giuliani Justin Webb's America | |
| Presenting the charges in the indictment, US attorney Michael Garcia told reporters that Mr Kerik had lied "time and again" when questioned about his financial dealings. | Presenting the charges in the indictment, US attorney Michael Garcia told reporters that Mr Kerik had lied "time and again" when questioned about his financial dealings. |
| "It is a sad day when this office returns an indictment against a former law enforcement officer, particularly one who served in positions as high as those held by Bernard Kerik," Mr Garcia said. | "It is a sad day when this office returns an indictment against a former law enforcement officer, particularly one who served in positions as high as those held by Bernard Kerik," Mr Garcia said. |
| "But we will not hesitate to pursue any public official who violates his oath and betrays the public trust as Mr Kerik is alleged to have done." | "But we will not hesitate to pursue any public official who violates his oath and betrays the public trust as Mr Kerik is alleged to have done." |
| According to the authorities, Mr Kerik failed to report more than $500,000 in taxable income between 1999 and 2004. | |
| If convicted, he could face up to 142 years in prison and $4.75m in penalties, the Associated Press news agency reported. |