Latest news with #BernieKerik
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Health
- Yahoo
Bernie Kerik's Cause of Death Unclear, But Cardiac Issues Cited
Bernie Kerik, the former City of New York police commissioner who rose to fame during the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks, has died at age 69. The FBI director, Kash Patel, confirmed Kerik's death on X on May 29, but he did not release a cause of death. Instead, Patel wrote that Bernard Kerik died after a "private battle with illness." However, Kerik's health issues were heart-related. Although the official cause of death was not released, The New York Post reported that Kerik died "after he was hospitalized with cardiac disease." He died at New York-Presbyterian Hospital, The Post reported. "Today, we mourn the loss of Bernard B. Kerik, a warrior, a patriot, and one of the most courageous public servants this country has ever known. Bernie passed away tragically on May 29, 2025, after a private battle with illness," Patel wrote. "With over 40 years of service in law enforcement and national security, he dedicated his life to protecting the American people. As the 40th Police Commissioner of New York City, Bernie led with strength and resolve in the aftermath of the September 11th attacks, guiding the NYPD through one of the darkest chapters in our nation's history. He was decorated more than 100 times for bravery, valor, and service, having rescued victims from burning buildings, survived assassination attempts, and brought some of the world's most dangerous criminals to justice," he added. "His legacy is not just in the medals or the titles, but in the lives he saved, the city he helped rebuild, and the country he served with honor. Rest easy, Commissioner. Your watch has ended, but your impact will never fade. End of Watch – May 29, 2025." However, Kerik ran into legal issues after his 2001 fame. According to Fox News, Kerik "pleaded guilty in 2009 to eight felonies, including tax fraud and lying to the White House while being vetted for the role of Homeland Security chief in 2004." He spent three years in prison before being pardoned, Fox News reported. The Post noted that Kerik was "was grilled by Congress during hearings stemming from the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the US Capitol."Bernie Kerik's Cause of Death Unclear, But Cardiac Issues Cited first appeared on Men's Journal on May 30, 2025
The Independent
2 days ago
- General
- The Independent
Bernard Kerik: 9/11 police commissioner later imprisoned and pardoned dies aged 69
Bernie Kerik, who led the New York City Police Department on 9/11, has died aged 69. Kash Patel, former FBI director, confirmed Kerik's death on social media on Thursday. He said Kerik had suffered from a 'private battle with illness' before his death. Kerik had a controversial career after his service as police commissioner, pleading guilty to tax fraud and other charges. He was later pardoned. Rudy Giuliani, former New York City Mayor, spoke on his show on Thursday, reflecting on his long relationship with Kerik. 'We've been together since the beginning. He's like my brother,' Giuliani said through tears. 'I was a better man for having known Bernie. I certainly was a braver and stronger man.' Kerik, an Army veteran, rose to the pinnacle of law enforcement before a fall so steep that even a city jail named after him was renamed. In 2010, he pleaded guilty to federal tax fraud and false statement charges, partially stemming from over $250,000 in apartment renovations he received from a construction firm that authorities say counted on Kerik to convince New York officials it had no organized crime links. He served three years in prison before his release in 2013. President Donald Trump pardoned Kerik during a 2020 clemency blitz. Kerik was among the guests feting Trump after his first appearance in federal court in Florida in a case related to his handling of classified documents, attending the former president's remarks at his Bedminster, New Jersey, club. Kerik was appointed by Rudy Giuliani to serve as police commissioner in 2000 and was in the position during the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks. He later worked for the former major of New York City surrounding the efforts to overturn Trump's 2020 loss.
Malay Mail
2 days ago
- General
- Malay Mail
Bernard Kerik, New York police chief through 9/11, dead at 69
NEW YORK, May 30 — Bernard 'Bernie' Kerik, who rose to national prominence after leading the New York police department through the September 11 terror attacks, died yesterday. He was 69. FBI Director Kash Patel announced Kerik's death on X, saying he passed away 'after a private battle with illness.' Lauding Kerik, Patel called him 'a warrior, a patriot and one of the most courageous public servants this country has ever known.' Kerik was the tough-talking head of the New York police when Osama bin Laden's hijackers struck the World Trade Center towers with commercial passenger jets in September 2001. In the traumatic days and weeks after the attack, Kerik, with his squat, muscular build, balding head and black moustache, became a familiar face to Americans across the country, as he helped then-mayor Rudy Giuliani guide New York through the crisis. He'd served as Police Commissioner for less than a year when his life and career were altered forever by the terror attacks that killed nearly 2,750 people, including 23 NYPD officers. When Giuliani's second term ended shortly after the attacks, Kerik left office with him and continued their decades-long friendship and professional allegiance. Kerik's rough upbringing was detailed in a memoir, 'The Lost Son: A Life in Pursuit.' Born in New Jersey to an alcoholic prostitute, he was abandoned by his mother and brought up by his father, and had a troubled childhood. Early on his career took him around the world, with a spell on a military police posting in South Korea and working as a security consultant for the Saudi royal family in Saudi Arabia. He later joined the New York Police Department, where he worked undercover in the narcotics division and helped bust 60 members of the notorious Colombian Cali drug cartel. After leaving the Police Commissioner role post-9/11, Kerik stayed active in Republican politics, taking on a tour of duty to Iraq to help train their law enforcement in 2003 for former president George W. Bush. He suffered another fall from grace after pleading guilty in 2009 to felonies, including tax fraud. He admitted to accepting US$255,000 worth of renovations to his apartment from a construction firm—suspected of having mob ties—angling for government contracts. His plea helped him avoid a maximum potential sentence of up to 61 years behind bars. Instead, he was sentenced to four years in prison. He was released in 2013. Kerik received a presidential pardon in 2020, during President Donald Trump's first term. He later teamed up with Giuliani to investigate debunked allegations of election fraud following Trump's 2020 loss, and was among those subpoenaed by lawmakers over accusations of plotting to overturn the election in the January 6, 2021, attacks on the US Capitol. — AFP
Fox News
2 days ago
- General
- Fox News
Former NYC Mayor Giuliani remembers best friend Bernie Kerik as 'true patriot': 'Much better for knowing him'
Rudy Giuliani, who served as mayor of New York City from 1994 to 2001, mourned the death of former New York City Police Department Commissioner Bernard "Bernie" Kerik on Thursday, describing the grief of losing his "best friend" and a "true patriot" as "inexpressible." Kerik died at 69 years old "after a private battle with illness," according to FBI Director Kash Patel. Kerik and Giuliani were prominent figures during and after the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks in New York City due to their leadership roles in the city, and they quickly became close friends. "On September 11th, Bernie Kerik and I saved each other's lives. If we weren't already friends, that bound us together forever. He was my best friend, a true Patriot, and one of the bravest men I've ever known," Giuliani wrote in a statement. Giuliani said Kerik was at his side "within 20 minutes of the attack" on 9/11 and "never left." The first collapse trapped both of them in a building for what Giuliani thinks was 20 to 30 minutes, but they were able to escape safely with "substantial additional assistance" and "extraordinary bravery" – an attitude that Giuliani said "permeated the way" for recovery over the next four months. "Bernie's leadership helped guide the people of a very frightened city to draw from their inherent individual strength as Americans and children of God," Giuliani said on Thursday. He also praised Kerik's career in law enforcement, specifically pointing out his role as Commissioner of Rikers Island, where he was able to reduce violence in the prison by 90%, and his role as NYPD commissioner, where he reduced crime in the city. "He was driven by an unwavering love of this country and a commitment to serving others. He was one of the most decorated New York City police officers of his time," he said. Kerik's 35-year career has been recognized with more than 100 awards for meritorious and heroic service, including a presidential commendation for heroism by President Ronald Reagan and two Distinguished Service Awards from the Department of Homeland Security. He was considered for the role of Homeland Security chief in 2004, but lied to the White House during vetting, which ultimately led to him pleading guilty to eight felonies, including tax fraud, in 2009. He spent about three years in prison, then moved to home confinement and, later, supervised release. President Donald Trump pardoned him of the convictions in 2020. Kerik worked with Giuliani again to investigate claims of election fraud following the 2020 presidential election. Giuliani expressed his condolences to Kerik's wife, his two daughters and his son – who is also a police officer – and said he believes all of Kerik's friends and admirers are "much better for knowing him."
The Independent
2 days ago
- General
- The Independent
Former New York Police Commissioner Bernie Kerik, who pleaded guilty to federal tax fraud, has died
Bernie Kerik, who served as New York City's police commissioner on 9/11 and later pleaded guilty to tax fraud before being pardoned, has died. He was 69. FBI Director Kash Patel confirmed his death on Thursday on social media, saying it came 'after a private battle with illness.' Former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani reflected on his long history with his former police commissioner on his show Thursday. 'We've been together since the beginning. He's like my brother,' Giuliani said through tears. 'I was a better man for having known Bernie. I certainly was a braver and stronger man.' Kerik, an Army veteran, rose to the pinnacle of law enforcement before a fall so steep that even a city jail named after him was renamed. In 2010, he pleaded guilty to federal tax fraud and false statement charges, partially stemming from over $250,000 in apartment renovations he received from a construction firm that authorities say counted on Kerik to convince New York officials it had no organized crime links. He served three years in prison before his release in 2013. President Donald Trump pardoned Kerik during a 2020 clemency blitz. Kerik was among the guests feting Trump after his first appearance in federal court in Florida in a case related to his handling of classified documents, attending the former president's remarks at his Bedminster, New Jersey, club. Kerik was appointed by Rudy Giuliani to serve as police commissioner in 2000 and was in the position during the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks. He later worked for the former major of New York City surrounding the efforts to overturn Trump's 2020 loss.
