Kerik Quits Giuliani’s Consulting Firm

Bernard Kerik, New York’s former top police officer who withdrew as a Bush administration Cabinet nominee, resigned Wednesday from former New York mayor Rudolph W. Giuliani’s consulting firm, Giuliani said.

He told reporters that Kerik, nominated by President Bush to be Homeland Security secretary before being overtaken by scandals, left Giuliani Partners LLC voluntarily.

Kerik withdrew his nomination, citing a failure to pay taxes for a nanny, but he quickly became embroiled in controversy over alleged extramarital affairs and suspected ties to organized crime.

The public downfall of Kerik, who rose from high school dropout to be named police commissioner by Giuliani, raised the possibility that the scandals may taint any future bid for the White House by the former mayor.

The controversy also raised questions about the methods used by the White House to vet potential nominees.

Kerik was police commissioner when New York was attacked on Sept. 11, 2001, by hijacked jets that toppled the World Trade Center towers.

Giuliani had promoted Kerik as the nation’s next Homeland Security chief, and he apologized to Bush when he visited the White House after Kerik withdrew his name on Dec. 10.

Recently, Giuliani said Kerik was not a partner but handled only 5% of the firm’s business.

Kerik was listed as senior vice president at Giuliani Partners and chief executive officer of Giuliani-Kerik LLC, an affiliate.

“Bernie Kerik tendered his resignation today,” Giuliani said. “I very unhappily accepted his resignation.

“I feel so sad about what happened that I can’t say I feel angry,” he added. “The impetus came from Bernie. He made the decision to resign and I agreed with that. I think he made the right decision for himself.”