Former NY City police commissioner Bernard Kerik pleaded not guilty to tax fraud charges

From the NY Times

Bernard B. Kerik (Photo: Louis Lanzano/Associated Press)

| WHITE PLAINS – Bernard B. Kerik, the former New York City police commissioner who at one point was President Bush’s top choice to lead the federal Department of Homeland Security, pleaded not guilty on Monday morning to new tax-fraud charges that were added to his public-corruption case.

As part of a superseding indictment, Mr. Kerik, 53, was arraigned on new allegations involving the preparation of false tax returns. Mr. Kerik was originally indicted in November 2007 on corruption, conspiracy and tax fraud charges.

“Mr. Kerik, how do you wish to plead to the indictment?” Judge Stephen C. Robinson of Federal District Court asked during a brief arraignment in Westchester County.

“Not guilty, your honor,” Mr. Kerik replied.

Mr. Kerik walked out of the hearing without comment, accompanied by one of his lawyers, Eric A. Tirschwell, of Kramer Levin Naftalis & Frankel L.L.P. (Mr. Tirschwell is handling Mr. Kerik’s case along with the defense lawyer Barry H. Berke, from the same firm.)

The other accusations Mr. Kerik faces include charges that he failed to disclose a $250,000 loan financed by an unnamed Israeli businessman; did not report as income more than $200,000 in rent paid by a developer on an Upper East Side luxury apartment; and failed to report more than $500,000 in income from 1999 through 2004, which includes three years as the city’s correction and police commissioners.

At the hearing, there was some discussion about whether Mr. Kerik would waive his right to a trial in Washington, as two of the counts concern false statements that the authorities say Mr. Kerik made when he was being vetted by the Bush administration in 2004 for secretary of homeland security. No decision was reached on those questions.