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On October 20 former NYPD commissioner Bernard Kerik was denied bail and sent to prison. Westchester Federal Judge Stephen Robinson concurred with the prosecution that Kerik was “trying to unduly influence potential jurors." It was found that Kerik had leaked confidential evidence about his case to bloggers. He had been free on a $500,000 bond, but now Kerik has been taken to Westchester County jail in Valhalla. Kerik’s lawyer, Barry Berke, has indicated that he will appeal the judge’s decision.

In the NY Daily News Judge Robinson is quoted as saying "He [Kerik] sees the court’s rulings as an inconvenience, something to be ignored, and an obstacle to be circumvented. I fear he has a toxic combination: self-minded focus and arrogance."

Kerik has pleaded not guilty to charges of accepting apartment renovations from a construction company in exchange for recommending the company for city contracts. He was originally indicted on November 8 2007 in White Plains New York on charges of conspiracy, tax fraud, and making false statements. If convicted on all 16 counts of the indictment he could be facing a maximum sentence of 142 years imprisonment. The charges were dropped in 2008 but indictment came again from Washington.

Bernard Kerik was the New York City Police Commissioner in 2000 and 2001. He was nominated by President George W. Bush as Secretary of Homeland Security in 2004. Kerik withdrew his nomination a week later, with the explanation that he had employed an illegal immigrant as a nanny. In 2006 Kerik pled guilty to accepting large monetary gifts while he was serving as city corrections commissioner (investigated by the Office of the Bronx District Attorney) and was ordered to pay $221,000.

Kerik joined the New York City Police Department in 1986, and declared bankruptcy in 1987. He gained a Bachelor of Science degree in Public Administration in 2002 from Empire State College and also attended John F. Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University. In 2001 his memoir, The Lost Son: A Life in Pursuit of Justice became a New York Times best seller.

In 1998 Kerik was made commissioner of the New York City Department of Correction, where he was responsible for an annual budget of $835 million. During his time as Correction Commissioner Kerik is credited with having created the Total Efficiency Accountability Management System (TEAMS). Under this system the department is said to have made huge gains in all areas of jail operations.

On August 21 2000 Mayor Rudolph W. Giuliani appointed Bernard Kerik the 40th New York City Police Commissioner, even though more than half of Giuliani’s cabinet opposed his appointment. The main reason he was opposed was his (at the time) lack of a college degree. Kerik was serving as Police Commissioner during the 9/11 attacks. It is believed that it is Kerik’s actions at that time which prompted President George W. Bush to nominate him as Secretary of Homeland Security.

In October 2009 Bernard Kerik sits in jail awaiting trial.

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