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Ex-NY police chief Kerik guilty | Ex-NY police chief Kerik guilty |
(30 minutes later) | |
Former New York City police chief Bernard Kerik has pleaded guilty to lying to the White House and has also said he will admit tax crimes. | Former New York City police chief Bernard Kerik has pleaded guilty to lying to the White House and has also said he will admit tax crimes. |
Mr Kerik, who was police commissioner at the time of the 9/11 attacks in 2001, was facing a corruption trial. | Mr Kerik, who was police commissioner at the time of the 9/11 attacks in 2001, was facing a corruption trial. |
He had his bail revoked two weeks ago for passing on secret pre-trial documents and has been in prison since. | He had his bail revoked two weeks ago for passing on secret pre-trial documents and has been in prison since. |
He was charged with lying to the White House in 2004 while being considered for a job as homeland security chief. | He was charged with lying to the White House in 2004 while being considered for a job as homeland security chief. |
Mr Kerik made the first of eight expected pleas at a court in White Plains, New York state, on Thursday. | Mr Kerik made the first of eight expected pleas at a court in White Plains, New York state, on Thursday. |
The admissions are part of a plea bargain designed to head off three pending criminal trials on 15 federal counts. Mr Kerik had previously denied all charges. | |
National hero | |
In court, Judge Stephen Robinson warned Mr Kerik that he could face up to 61 years in prison for the offences to which he was pleading guilty. | |
Under the plea bargain, the prosecution has suggested the former police commissioner be sentenced to between 27 and 33 months in jail. | |
As well as making false statements to the White House and other federal officials, Mr Kerik is alleged to have accepted a $250,000 (£151,000) payback in the form of apartment renovations from a company to which he gave a city contract. | |
He is also accused of failing to report more than $500,000 (£302,000) in taxable income between 1999 and 2004 and illegally claiming charitable deductions. | |
Mr Kerik had been regaled as a national hero following the 9/11 terror attacks and was nominated for the post of the head of the Department of Homeland Security under the Bush administration in 2004. | |
But he withdrew his name from consideration for the role after he was accused of failing to pay taxes, and of having extramarital affairs. |