New York, NY – In his first interview since his February 18th sentencing, former New York City Police Commissioner Bernard Kerik spoke exclusively with PIX 11 News for a candid one-on-one interview with WPIX reporter Monica Morales.
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Kerik spoke from inside his Franklin Lakes, New Jersey home where he is currently under house arrest. The man who once led the New York City Police Department and was President George W. Bush’s hand picked nominee to head the Department of Homeland Security now sports an electronic bracelet on his left ankle and has been barred from leaving his home.
A month from now, on May 17th, Kerik will head to prison to serve a four-year term for tax fraud and lying to the White House while being vetted for the job of Homeland Security chief back in 2004.
Bernard Kerik gave PIX 11 News a rare exclusive glimpse into what his life is like now. Insisting that he had nothing to hide, Kerik said he was ready to break his silence and tell his side of the story.
“This is the first time I have really spoken since the sentencing and I think people are concerned with what I’m going to do and where I’m going to go and what’s going to happen,” he said. “The media has done a tremendous job trying to erase my over thirty years of service to this country. I think there is a lot that I have done that people should know about. Its not just the negative and the bad.”
From the comfort of his living room he spoke candidly about his relationship with former Mayor Rudy Giuliani who he still holds much reverence for.
“We were out of the office, we were in the private sector together I still have enormous respect for him. I would very seldom call him by his first name. It was always Mr. Mayor sir.”
When he was appointed New York City’s Correction’s Commissioner in 1998, he described it as being a scene right out of ” The Godfather.”
“It was a great night [when] the Mayor told me I was appointed first deputy, and as soon as I got over the fear and anxiety we talked about what was going to happen,” he revealed. “As they walked in, each one came in to congratulate me … and leaving that night, knowing what had just happened and I thought how great this was.”
“It also showed how tight the group was and I left at 1 a.m. and they were still at work at Gracie. He valued that loyalty.”
Kerik also opened up on the day New York City – and the nation – fell under attack on Sept. 11 2001. He is widely credited for saving Giuliani’s life.
“We were walking down West St., a number of his staff wanted him to go back to his office at City Hall and call the White House and this was captured,” he said. “And I ran up to him and grabbed him and said ‘you cant go to City Hall.'”
“I wanted to get him away from the danger zone, away from the towers. If we had gone to City Hall, we would have all died.”
Kerik revealed that the two haven’t spoken since Sept 11 2006, but Kerik says he still considers the former mayor a friend.
So what’s next for Bernard Kerik. He says he’s working on two books, and don’t be surprised to see a major motion picture about his life. When asked about Russell Crowe playing him on the big screen, he said, “I’m ugly that would be a step up.”
Mr. Kerik is not the only one who has lost faith in the justice system. And before anyone with a smug attitude will comment, I just want to state the fact that everyone, everyone is human and has violated the law at least once in his lifetime, because there are so many laws these days that it’s impossible never to have violated the law.
If you get caught in justice system or become a scapegoat in the media, who can turn anyone into a monster to feed their neverending appetite for sensational news, then you’re a goner.
How many of you VIN readers are also sickened by the term “public service?” It is a job…period. Lower paying, that is true; but one with tremendous benefits; including that gem known as “Pension Plan.” A public servant would be someone who VOLUNTEERS some time for the public benefit.
He is right people are inherently unfair; hence the justice system becomes unfair. Even if you have been an upstanding man all your life, but slipped up once, the public will never forgive you.
I sympathize with Bernard Kerik; he is totally right in losing faith if 30 years of service to our city and country now counts for a can of beans. People are unforgiving and that’s a shame.
HE can be under house arrest but not Rubashkin, what miscarriage of justice.
‘He is widely credited for saving Giuliani’s life.
‘”We were walking down West St., a number of his staff wanted him to go back to his office at City Hall and call the White House and this was captured,” he said. “And I ran up to him and grabbed him and said ‘you cant go to City Hall.'”‘
Huh? City Hall didn’t collapse. Who died inside City Hall?
“I wanted to get him away from the danger zone, away from the towers. If we had gone to City Hall, we would have all died.”
Why? City Hall didn’t get hit by the cloud?
Our Constitution states that every citizen is “innocent until proven guilty”
and a suspected person of crime, can only be convicted if he “intended”
to commit the crime.
Well….its all in THEORY,,,,but far from the truth.
The Justice Dept-stinks…the prosecutors are not interested in the truth
their goal is to convict as many people as they possibly can and put
them behind bars.
The entire Justice Dept is a replica of Sedom. G-d have mercy on us
as we are begining to see that Galus America is far from a solution!!!!
We need a big Yeshua!!
‘He is widely credited for saving Giuliani’s life.
Please explain how he saved Giuliani’s life. More political lies.
Is Sholom Rubashkin much more worse then Kerik, so he should spend his life in prison?
Sorry Barnny, you shamed the NYPD by being the first top cop to go to prison for corruption. God knows what you did with those powers. The people lose all trust when we have hypocrites like your running around. All your heroics and glory is flushed down the drain because of your own actions in life.
so when he gets out he will be offered a movie and book deal and make millions off of this.
disgusting!
His problem was he lied to the White House. Once you lie to the White House your done and finished. The arrogance is what did him in. You also don’t embarass the president of the Unites States
I also have lost faith in the American Justice system. Just look at what s happening with Rubashkin. America has become a mockery amongst the civilized nations of this world.