EXCLUSIVE: Bernard Kerik May Accept Plea Deal, Serve 27 Months in Prison, Sources Say
Disgraced former NYC Police Commissioner set to waive right to trial.
Nov. 3, 2009 — -- Disgraced former NYC Police Commissioner Bernard Kerik is on the verge of accepting a plea bargain agreement in which he would serve about 27 months in federal prison, sources close to the negotiation tell ABC News.
The legal team for the man once dubbed "America's Police Commissioner," following his leadership in the aftermath of September 11, has until Thursday to waive his right to trial and accept the deal, the terms of which are still being finalized, sources say.
Prosecutors have alleged that Kerik, while New York City Correction Commissioner - a post he held prior to his appointment as Police Commissioner by Rudolph Giuliani - allowed a construction company to pay for renovations to his Bronx apartment in the hope that he would help the company obtain a city license.
Kerik faces numerous other federal charges, and two additional federal indictments following the current trial, which is slated to begin jury selection on Nov. 9. He has pleaded not guilty to the federal charges against him.
Prosecutors allege that Kerik also provided false information to the White House while under consideration for the job of head of Homeland Security, a post he was nominated for by President George Bush.
Federal Judge Stephen Robinson revoked Kerik's $500,000 bail Oct. 20, citing evidence that Kerik had violated a court order by releasing sealed materials that he felt may have been exculpatory to Kerik, and that information was shared with members of the media.
Last Wednesday, Kerik's attorney's appealed the bail revocation before the Second Circuit Court of Appeals in Manhattan. The motion for relief was denied. During the hearing, Judge Reena Raggi repeated criticized Kerik's counsel for delivering the voluminous information related to the motion in dribs and drabs and late in the evening before the hearing.
It now appears Kerik will plead guilty to at least one of the corruption charges leveled against him. Earlier in the legal process, which has cost Kerik about $2 million, he rejected a plea deal.