clipped from: news.bbc.co.uk   
Former New York City police chief Bernard Kerik has pleaded not guilty to federal corruption and tax charges.

Mr Kerik, the city's top police officer at the time of the 9/11 terror attacks, was indicted by a federal grand jury.

He has been charged with 14 offences, including fraud, obstructing an FBI investigation and lying to the federal government, a US attorney said.

The matter is awkward for presidential hopeful Rudy Giuliani, who backed Mr Kerik to run homeland security in 2004.

President George W Bush nominated Mr Kerik for homeland security in part on the strength of Mr Giuliani's recommendation.

Bernard Kerik and Rudy Guiliani (file picture)
The issue is what the whole Kerik debacle does to relations between President George W Bush and Giuliani
US attorney Michael Garcia told
"It is a sad day when this office returns an indictment against a former law enforcement officer, particularly one who served in positions as high
Bernard Kerik
we will not hesitate to pursue any public official who violates his oath and betrays the public trust