Bernard Kerik Resigns From Giuliani's Consulting Firm
NEW YORK -- Former police commissioner Bernard Kerik resigned Wednesday from Rudolph Giuliani's consulting firm, less than two weeks after his nomination as U.S. homeland security chief collapsed amid a rash of allegations of personal and professional improprieties.
At a news conference in Manhattan, Kerik said he had apologized to the former New York mayor for being a distraction because of his messy withdrawal as a Bush Cabinet candidate.
"After careful consideration, I have decided that it is in the best interests of my family, my colleagues and our clients that I resign my position with Giuliani Partners and (affiliate company) Giuliani-Kerik," Kerik said.
Giuliani said he had not asked for Kerik's resignation.
"He made the decision," the former mayor said at a later news conference. "The impetus came from Bernie. I think he made the right decision for himself and his family. No one or anyone can take away from him the incredible bravery."
Kerik, a former New York correction commissioner, said he told Giuliani his resignation would be effective immediately. He said he would seek other unspecified business opportunities, write a book and spend time with his family.
"The events surrounding my withdrawal have become an unfair and unnecessary distraction to the firm and most importantly to the work they do at the firm," he said. "I am confident that I will be vindicated from any allegation of wrongdoing."
Kerik's scandal-tarred nomination had become a political embarrassment for Giuliani, a rising star in the GOP who had recommended his friend and business partner to President Bush. At a White House Christmas dinner with Bush nearly two weeks ago, Giuliani apologized to the president for the problems with the Kerik nomination, although he did not meet with Bush for the express purpose of apologizing, his spokeswoman said.
Kerik, 49, was tapped by Bush earlier this month to head the Department of Homeland Security. He abruptly withdrew his name Dec. 10 after revealing that he had not paid all required taxes for a family nanny-housekeeper and that the woman may have been in the country illegally.
A rash of other scandals soon followed, including allegations that he had connections with people suspected of doing business with the mob and accusations that he had simultaneous extramarital affairs with two women.
Recently, the city Department of Investigation said it had been reviewing Kerik's tenure as police commissioner. According to DOI findings, Kerik submitted a background form when he became commissioner of the Department of Correction in 1998 but did not fill one out when he was appointed police commissioner two years later.
Columbia University public affairs professor Steve Cohen said the Kerik affair was "clearly a stain on the mayor's reputation."
"For Giuliani, it's an incredible turn of events for a man known for a zero-tolerance policy," Cohen said. "It is the last act (Kerik) can do to create some distance between him and Giuliani so Giuliani can remain a viable national candidate."
After leaving the police department in 2002, Kerik joined Giuliani Partners, becoming a security consultant and then signing on to help launch the Iraqi police force.
When Kerik left for Baghdad last May on a $140,000-a-year contract for the Department of Defense, he told reporters he expected to be there for six months. He departed after four.
"Everything that had to be done that I could possibly do, it was done," he said when he returned.
Giuliani Partners LLC has advised business and government agencies on security, leadership and other issues. The consulting firm advised Trinidad in its battle against a rise in kidnappings and murders and was paid $4.3 million by Mexico City officials for advice on reducing crime there.
In a statement Wednesday, Giuliani said Giuliani-Kerik LLC, an affiliate of Giuliani Partners, would be renamed Giuliani Security & Safety. Kerik had been CEO of Giuliani-Kerik.
The managing director of Giuliani Partners, Daniel Connolly, a former special counsel to the city's law department, will replace Kerik.
© 2004 by The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
At a news conference in Manhattan, Kerik said he had apologized to the former New York mayor for being a distraction because of his messy withdrawal as a Bush Cabinet candidate.
"After careful consideration, I have decided that it is in the best interests of my family, my colleagues and our clients that I resign my position with Giuliani Partners and (affiliate company) Giuliani-Kerik," Kerik said.
Giuliani said he had not asked for Kerik's resignation.
"He made the decision," the former mayor said at a later news conference. "The impetus came from Bernie. I think he made the right decision for himself and his family. No one or anyone can take away from him the incredible bravery."
Kerik, a former New York correction commissioner, said he told Giuliani his resignation would be effective immediately. He said he would seek other unspecified business opportunities, write a book and spend time with his family.
"The events surrounding my withdrawal have become an unfair and unnecessary distraction to the firm and most importantly to the work they do at the firm," he said. "I am confident that I will be vindicated from any allegation of wrongdoing."
Kerik's scandal-tarred nomination had become a political embarrassment for Giuliani, a rising star in the GOP who had recommended his friend and business partner to President Bush. At a White House Christmas dinner with Bush nearly two weeks ago, Giuliani apologized to the president for the problems with the Kerik nomination, although he did not meet with Bush for the express purpose of apologizing, his spokeswoman said.
Kerik, 49, was tapped by Bush earlier this month to head the Department of Homeland Security. He abruptly withdrew his name Dec. 10 after revealing that he had not paid all required taxes for a family nanny-housekeeper and that the woman may have been in the country illegally.
A rash of other scandals soon followed, including allegations that he had connections with people suspected of doing business with the mob and accusations that he had simultaneous extramarital affairs with two women.
Recently, the city Department of Investigation said it had been reviewing Kerik's tenure as police commissioner. According to DOI findings, Kerik submitted a background form when he became commissioner of the Department of Correction in 1998 but did not fill one out when he was appointed police commissioner two years later.
Columbia University public affairs professor Steve Cohen said the Kerik affair was "clearly a stain on the mayor's reputation."
"For Giuliani, it's an incredible turn of events for a man known for a zero-tolerance policy," Cohen said. "It is the last act (Kerik) can do to create some distance between him and Giuliani so Giuliani can remain a viable national candidate."
After leaving the police department in 2002, Kerik joined Giuliani Partners, becoming a security consultant and then signing on to help launch the Iraqi police force.
When Kerik left for Baghdad last May on a $140,000-a-year contract for the Department of Defense, he told reporters he expected to be there for six months. He departed after four.
"Everything that had to be done that I could possibly do, it was done," he said when he returned.
Giuliani Partners LLC has advised business and government agencies on security, leadership and other issues. The consulting firm advised Trinidad in its battle against a rise in kidnappings and murders and was paid $4.3 million by Mexico City officials for advice on reducing crime there.
In a statement Wednesday, Giuliani said Giuliani-Kerik LLC, an affiliate of Giuliani Partners, would be renamed Giuliani Security & Safety. Kerik had been CEO of Giuliani-Kerik.
The managing director of Giuliani Partners, Daniel Connolly, a former special counsel to the city's law department, will replace Kerik.
© 2004 by The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
posted by R7 | 12/22/2004 09:52:00 PM
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