Posted on 12/10/2004 8:09:32 PM PST by Jeff Head
In a surprise move, former New York Police Commissioner Bernard Kerik abruptly withdrew his nomination as President Bush (news - web sites)'s choice to be homeland security secretary Friday night, saying questions have arisen about the immigration status of a housekeeper and nanny he employed.
The decision caught the White House off guard and sent Bush in search of a new candidate to run the sprawling bureaucracy of more than 180,000 employees melded together from 22 disparate federal agencies in 2003.
Kerik informed Bush of his decision to withdraw in a telephone call at 8:30 p.m. EST. "I am convinced that, for personal reasons, moving forward would not be in the best interests of your administration, the Department of Homeland Security or the American people," Kerik said in a letter to the president.
The White House said Bush accepted Kerik's decision.
One administration official helping prepare Kerik for Senate confirmation, speaking on condition of anonymity, said Kerik's unexpected decision shocked senior leaders at the Homeland Security Department. This official said Kerik still had not filled out all his ethics filings — which would detail his sources of income and financial liabilities — and said the FBI (news - web sites) background investigation of Kerik was still incomplete.
But the only moderately troubling information uncovered about Kerik so far was news that Kerik had earned $6.2 million by exercising stock options he received from Taser International, which did lucrative business with the Department of Homeland Security, this official said.
Kerik said the problematic issue arose as he was completing documents required for Senate confirmation. "I uncovered information that now leads me to question the immigration status of a person who had been in my employ as a housekeeper and nanny. It has also been brought to my attention that for a period of time during such employment required tax payments and related filings had not been made."
Kerik said he feared that the disclosure of the issue would generate intense scrutiny that would "only serve as a significant and unnecessary distraction to the vital efforts of the Department of Homeland Security."
True, but sometimes the best background check, coupled with political realities, can miss something. Media anal examines, especially if your a Republican, can be brutal. We are held accountable to a higher ethical standard than the democRATS. (As it should be)
5.56mm
I got it! Next DHS head........Lieberman!!
Skeletons in his closet, I bet it's much more than a nannie.
A "surprise move"? Oh please. The Leftist media had it out for this guy. They were Borking him with hit piece upon hit piece. Kerik's nomination was doomed by the "mainstream" (sic) media days ago.
I have to agree, I know many homeowners who take advantage of cheap labor and hire cleaners, cooks, nannys, and housekeepers who have difficulty speaking english and are afraid to call the authorities when there is trouble. These are signs of undocumented workers. People who hire these people are not thinking of the law or their future electability or appointability, but they should.
When the task is contracted by the job, the homeowner has no liability to look for immigration status, but when the job is contracted by the hour and the employment runs for more than half a year, I believe the employer needs to consider the payroll tax and income tax situation. There are probably insurance considerations as well. If someone is employed full time (40 or more hours per week), it is even more obvious that one person is the employer and the other is an employee. (Not an independent contractor). I suppose if one wanted to verify an independent contractor situation one would look for a license and or a posted bond. And perhaps verify that the person has workers insurance in force while working on your property.
Illegal immigration is a serious problem that will become more important after another terrorist attack. Politicians need to be more concerned and not appointing someone who has contributed to the problem is a good start.
I dunno. I remember this sort of thing happening with post nominees all the way back in Reagan's day. I don't know why more thorough background checking isn't done.
I have the feeling it is done. Something like a nanny from Mars can't go unnoticed.
Amazing. He hires an illegal immigrant, he gets punished. The government encourages and refuses to control illegal immigration, its members win re-election.
Its an election thing I guess. Appointments are held to a higher standard?
Then we've got a triple standard in appointments if Mineta can stay, Rice can get promoted, and Kerik has to go.
Kerik is a good guy, but if the President (and perhaps the Republican Party as a whole) is to have any credibility on the immigration issue, he could not be Secretary of a department where immigration plays such a major role.
OK, I'll admit the fact that she was possibly a foreign born Muslim WORRIED me.
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