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| Version 4 | Version 5 |
|---|---|
| Ex-NY police chief denies charges | Ex-NY police chief denies charges |
| (about 15 hours later) | |
| Former New York City police chief Bernard Kerik has pleaded not guilty to federal corruption and tax charges. | 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, has been released on $500,000 bail and vowed to fight the case against him. | Mr Kerik, the city's top police officer at the time of the 9/11 terror attacks, has been released on $500,000 bail and vowed to fight the case against him. |
| The matter is awkward for presidential hopeful Rudy Giuliani, who backed Mr Kerik to run Homeland Security in 2004. | |
| Mr Giuliani spoke of a "sad day" following the charges and said Mr Kerik had been a "hero police officer". | |
| Mr Kerik withdrew his name from consideration for the Homeland Security post 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. | 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. |
| Judgement questioned | |
| 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. |
| Campaigning in New Hampshire, another contender for the Republican Party's presidential nomination, John McCain, questioned Mr Giuliani's judgement over his relationship with Mr Kerik. | |
| Mr McCain pointed to Mr Kerik's role training local police in Iraq after he left the police department. | |
| "Kerik was supposed to be there to help train the police force. He stayed two months and one day left, just up and left," he said. | |
| "That should have been part of anyone's judgment before they would recommend that individual to be the head of the Department of Homeland Security," he added. | |
| 'Betrayal' | |
| The issue is what the whole Kerik debacle does to relations between President George W Bush and Giuliani Justin Webb's America | The issue is what the whole Kerik debacle does to relations between President George W Bush and Giuliani Justin Webb's America |
| Among the 14 counts Mr Kerik faces are fraud, obstructing an FBI inquiry and lying to the federal government. | |
| 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. | |
| 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. | According to the authorities, Mr Kerik failed to report more than $500,000 in taxable income between 1999 and 2004. |
| He is also alleged to have made false statements to White House and other federal officials while being considered for the Homeland Security role. | He is also alleged to have made false statements to White House and other federal officials while being considered for the Homeland Security role. |
| Speaking after his court appearance, Mr Kerik said: "I am disappointed that the government has brought forth this case... This is a battle I am going to fight." | Speaking after his court appearance, Mr Kerik said: "I am disappointed that the government has brought forth this case... This is a battle I am going to fight." |
| If convicted, he could face up to 142 years in prison and $4.75m in penalties. | If convicted, he could face up to 142 years in prison and $4.75m in penalties. |