Posted on 12/13/2004 3:27:04 AM PST by billorites
Former NYPD Commissioner Bernard Kerik conducted two extramarital affairs simultaneously, using a secret Battery Park City apartment for the passionate liaisons, the Daily News has learned. The first relationship, spanning nearly a decade, was with city Correction Officer Jeanette Pinero; the second, and more startling, was with famed publishing titan Judith Regan. His affair with Regan, the stunningly attractive head of her own book publishing company, lasted for almost a year. Dramatically, each woman learned of the existence of the other after Pinero discovered a love note left by Regan in the apartment. The revelations about Kerik's private life come as repercussions over his suitability to be nominated for the post of secretary of homeland security. Kerik, 49, married with two children from his current marriage, withdrew his name from consideration in a sudden and unexpected call to the White House on Friday night. Kerik said that questions about the immigration status of his family's former nanny and failure to pay taxes prompted his decision to walk away from the job. But speculation has continued that there were deeper and more controversial reasons. Yesterday, The News reported that a six-month investigation showed Kerik had accepted thousands of dollars in cash and gifts without proper disclosure, and had ties to a construction company that investigators believe is linked to the mob. Now revelations about his private life also cast a shadow on his suitability for one of the administration's highest-profile cabinet positions. Asked about the affairs and the secret love nest yesterday, Joseph Tacopina, Kerik's attorney, said Kerik and Regan had denied the affair in the past. Tacopina said Kerik's "friendship" with Pinero ended in 1996. He would not comment on the apartment. Regan could not be reached for comment. But sources with intimate knowledge of both affairs painted a picture of passionate, and sometimes volatile, liaisons. The tumultuous Regan-Kerik romance carried on for months, through the writing, publication and promotion of his autobiography, "The Lost Son: A Life in Pursuit of Justice," which Regan's company published. The two worked out together most mornings at the New York Sports Club in Rockefeller Center and often dined at Fresco restaurant in midtown, according to sources. Kerik visited Regan's Central Park West apartment almost daily, and occasionally stayed the night, with his police detail camped outside. They became so close that Kerik's two nieces stayed with Regan while the commissioner's sister was hospitalized, one source said. Regan visited the Battery Park apartment several times, the source said, but apparently never knew that his actual residence at that time was an apartment on E. 79th St. Furnished corporate rentals similar to the unit Kerik used, according to the sources, are advertised at monthly rents from $3,150 to $6,200. Representatives of Milstein Properties, whichs owns the Liberty View, could not be reached yesterday. After one encounter, Regan left a romantic note, which was later discovered by Pinero. The two later spoke on the phone. "She wanted to know if Judith was still seeing him," the source said. "She told Regan about their affair and Regan told her she was shocked." Many close to Kerik in the mid-1990s assumed that someday he would marry Pinero, a career correction officer described as spirited and attractive by friends, a close friend and a former high-ranking Correction Department source said. The relationship continued after Kerik married Hala Matli, a hygienist in his dentist's office whom he met in mid-1996 and wed in November 1998, according to multiple sources close to Pinero and Kerik. Kerik's affair with Pinero is at the center of two lawsuits against the city, both brought by correction employees who claimed Kerik retaliated after they crossed her. The city settled one last year for $250,000, The News reported at the time. The second suit, in which Pinero and Kerik were deposed last week, was filed by former Deputy Warden Eric DeRavin 3rd, who claims Kerik quashed his promotion after he reprimanded Pinero. The city demanded a gag order on both depositions. Pinero declined to comment. But sources with whom she has spoken said that on her trips to the Battery Park City apartment, Pinero was shuttled in through a side service door. "She's going to be my wife for as long we live. I support her 100%," said Pinero's husband, who asked that his name be withheld. Yesterday, Kerik remained at his $1.2 million home in Franklin Lakes, N.J. After announcing his decision to withdraw his name from the top homeland security post, he remained at the house over the weekend, emerging only twice to talk to media. On both occasions, he stressed that he had made the decision to withdraw his name from consideration solely on the basis of problems with the family nanny. He said he had realized on Wednesday evening that there were issues with the woman's immigration status and tax status. He added that he wanted to avoid any embarrassment to the President, with whom he had stood side-by-side at a press conference announcing his nomination just a week before. Kerik, who had a national profile after the events of 9/11, had been one of Bush's most enthusiastic public supporters during the election campaign.
With Nancy Dillon
Originally published on December 13, 2004
"Oh what a tangle web we weave, when we Kerik to deceive."
bump
OK the guy has given up, taken his name off the list, can we stop digging now?
Morality aside- if it took a few reporters a weekend to dig up this dirt, how is it possible the president's team was unable to find this in the weeks leading up to Kerik's nomination? I'm serious...what is the deal with the vetting?
One wonders why the NY press sat on this stuff for so long.
Wow, who would have thought.. He's really a Democrat.. . .:)
Just think of all the time they had to dig up the dirt on Kerry...
You just know Bill Clinton is furious that none of his girlfriends was ever called "stunningly attractive" by any media outlet.
Judith Regan looks like a knock-out. Is it me or are conservative women all sought after?? ;-)
You're right to wonder. It seems as if a number of people fell down on the job. And now, those who have the information are making sure the administration gets the hint.
Gee, I wonder what they could have found about Kerry using this much effort and desire to tell all.
She was after Rush when Rush's first book came out.
The realy sad thing is, especially considering Ol' Bernie was able to pull all of that off for so long without detection, he'd gave been perfect for the Homeland Security post. That was a lot of secretive affairs/sensitive informnation to be juggling - and it's not always a bad thing to have certain "ties."
She had a talk show on Fox News for several years. I always thought she was quite attractive.
Haven't seen a photo of the corrections officer yet.
I can see why a man like Kerik would feel attracted to her. The only thing I'm surprised at it how he was able to keep his affair secret for so long.
I agree. We must stop any other speculation, which is always against this Administration. Bush, please, give us a new name!
I didn't know that...do you have more info? Thanks..
He's not as smart as I thought...
Well, DUH!!!
And these women have the nerve to be suprised? Well, maybe "nerve" isn't the right word...
Mark
Fortunately, someone did some further vetting in the nick of time and forced Kerik to "resign" before he was confirmed.
IMO, the ephemeral "nanny" tale is bogus......and a face-saving ploy agreed upon by all concerned.
This was a close one, whew.
Leni
Just remember, it has nothing to do with being "smart."
G-d gave man two heads to think with, but only enough blood to use one at a time!
Guess which head he was thinking with?
Mark
Was he not getting 'enough' at home? Too bad, he looked like a pretty good nominee.
She did Rush's book as he was hitting the big time.
He (wisely) didn't let it get to far. Kept it professional as far as I know.
Rudy should pay attention to what is happening to Kerik before he even thinks about running for President.
If he lies to his wife....He will lie to you....End of issue.
The woman pictured in post 6 looks like Hillary with darker hair.
That's what I was thinking.
And I have three words for 43: Trust but verify :)
Icky, jut icky.
Hmmmm..... I am looking for a book deal for the DUmmie FUnnies. So does that mean I will have to shtoop Judith Regan? Anybody have pics of her?
I always watched Regan's tv show on Fox news, and she was very tough on Clinton during the sex scandal and impeachment. She also used to talk about her ex-husband cheating on her and how she had to raise her young son as a single parent.
ping
Well, we could just be like the Democrats and say "his personal life doesn't matter."
Much as I like Kerik, and thought his biography The Lost Son was an American success story, he seems to have enough baggage that I'm disturbed he made it through the initial FBI screening process that the White House must surely put potential candidates through.
I am disappointed and surprised at Regan's behavior. Don't morals ever enter into these people's minds? This was very infantile behavior for both and it degrades them. They are both old enough to know better.
One more man done in by the fact that he can't keep his pants on.
We need to promote abstinence for politicians and officials and anyone who would be either one -- and bring back the old fashioned idea of monogamy for anyone who is not French.
_____________________________________________________
Exactly wrong.
Character counts, remember? This sneaking around (while his taxpayer salaried posse waits outside) is dangerous and sexual liaisons have compromised more than one high ranking politico (remember Profumo?).
I don't care how tough his image is, "Ol' Bernie" is neither honest nor principled and a deadbeat (unless his daughter doesn't count because she's a Korean love-child). Add his obvious penchant for abusing his position into the mix and, if it weren't for his 911 performance, we'd be calling him the scumbag he really is.
He can't disappear fast enough for me.
AAAACCCCKKKKKK, says a lot about Judith Reagan!
I detest infidelity, but that cannot be the point here, can it?
If infidelity is the point, then are we as a country going to exclude everyone, and I mean everyone, from public office who has had an affair? Will the Press dig this up on everyone, not just selected ones? If they do it only selectively, who will dig it up on the others the Press leaves alone?
This is utter folly, people. Think about it.
But he's not a Democrat, so it's different.
I agree. If she has complained about her ex cheating on her and having to raise her young son alone, what the heck is she doing having an affair with a married father of two?
It's not about the affairs. It's about him being untrustworthy and irresponsible. Not the guy I want in charge of defending my kids and grandkids. There is no need to settle for someone less.
NY must have a different moral code than the rest of the country. I worked for publishing house, and the president of the company boldly strutted his 20 something mistress through the offices. His NY city mistress, while his wife and kids were in Connecticut.
It's hard to keep score without a scorecard these days.
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