Trump's envoy to the Middle East and mediator in the Israel-Hamas talks, payed NY Police Commissioner Bernard Kerik's rent for two years, between 2001 and 2003. The sum amounted to 236,000 USD. Kerik, known as 'America's Cop' after 9/11 "helmed the department during the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks, overseeing response, rescue, recovery and investigative efforts." (1)
Among other things, Kerik was the one that announced the discovery of one of Satam Al Suqami's passport in the streets of NY. According to him a passerby found the passport and handed it over to the NYPD. The passerby has never been identified.
And although Witcoff was absolved of any wrongdoing, how likely is it that anyone would subsidize someone's lifestyle to that extent without wanting something in return?...
Billionaire Businessman Gave Kerik $250K “Loan”
By Paul Kiel
|
November 26, 2007 2:50 p.m.
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Bernie Kerik had a talent for making wealthy friends —
and then hitting them up for money. It was a talent that prosecutors say
crossed the line into bribery on at least one
occasion.
Over the weekend, The New York Times revealed
the details of another one of those deals. In 2003, while Kerik was on his
short stint with
the Coalition Provisional Authority in Iraq, Israeli billionaire and industrialist
Eitan Wertheimer loaned Kerik $250,000.
But it wasn’t what you’d call a straightforward loan.
The money went first to Kerik’s friend and Brooklyn businessman Shimon Cohen,
who then passed it on to Kerik. It was provided with no interest, no conditions,
and seemingly no questions asked.
There’s even more grounds for suspicion. The loan only
came to light after the Bronx district attorney’s office and New York City’s
Department of Investigation launched an investigation of Kerik’s personal finances in 2005. They interviewed Cohen in
June of that year about the loan — he fessed up to
having given the money, but said nothing about the fact that Wertheimer had
financed it. Nine days later, two years after the loan was originally given,
Kerik paid off the loan in full — with interest.
The indictment of Kerik earlier this month included a charge of lying to the Federal Government
about the loan (Both Wertheimer and Cohen are identified only as John Does in
the indictment.). That’s because when Kerik filled out a financial disclosure
form that covered his time in Iraq, he didn’t report it. Prosecutors
pointedly mention that Wertheimer’s companies do “business with
the federal government.” In other words, it was precisely the sort of conflict
of interest that financial disclosure requirements are designed to expose.
Now, the open question is what Wertheimer thought he
was getting for his money.
As the Times notes, his “family’s
vast holdings include companies with United States Defense Department
contracts.” One of those companies is Blades Technologies, which makes engine
parts for Pratt & Whitney, a giant manufacturer of jets for the U.S. He’s
also a shareholder of a company called Orsus, a company that designs software
for control rooms, which is also a contractor for the DoD and Department of Homeland
Security. The list goes on. Presumably Kerik would have been available for a
favor.
And keep in mind that at the time Kerik went to Iraq,
he was still a partner with Giuliani’s consultancy Giuliani Partners, which
he’d joined after stepping down as New York City Police Commissioner at the end
of 2001. A spokeswoman for the firm told the Times “the
company had not had any business relationship with any of Mr. Wertheimer’s
companies during the time Mr. Kerik was affiliated with the business.”
Of course, there’s always the chance that Wertheimer,
a noted philanthropist, was just being generous.
Note: The Times has a funny detail that
will strike Kerik muck aficionados as classic Kerik:
Mr. Wertheimer met Mr. Kerik through Mr. Cohen, a
longtime friend, according to associates, and the two spent time together
during Mr. Kerik’s trip to Israel in August 2001. Later that year, as he left
his New York City police post, Mr. Kerik handed out 19 gold and blue enamel
badges that declared the recipients “Honorary Police Commissioners” and Mr.
Wertheimer received one, as did [Nathan Berman, a real estate developer who has
also lent Mr. Kerik money] and Judith Regan, then Mr. Kerik’s lover and
publisher. The real estate developer Steven C. Witkoff, who is listed in the
indictment as John Doe No. 5, who paid more than $236,000 in rent for Mr. Kerik
from 2001 to 2003, also received one of the badges.
Do you see a pattern?
https://talkingpointsmemo.com/muckraker/img-src-http-talkingpointsmemo-com-images-bush-kerik-lawn-muck-jpg-vspace-5-hspace-5-align-left-billionaire-businessman-gave-kerik-250k-loan
___________________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________________
Kerik was introduced to Eitan Wertheimer through his longtime friend, a Brooklyn businessman named Shimon Cohen. Cohen arranged the introduction during a trip to Israel in August 2001, while Kerik was still serving as New York City’s police commissioner. They were joined on the trip by Steve Witkoff.
Subsequent indictments revealed that between October 2001 and 2003, Witkoff covered the rent for Kerik’s apartment at 350 East 79th Street in Manhattan — paying more than $9,000 a month, for a total of $236,000.
Neither Witkoff nor Wertheimer was accused of any wrongdoing. Kerik was pardoned by President Trump in February 2020.
https://medium.com/@petergrant_14485/the-envoy-how-steve-witkoffs-network-links-trump-and-the-kremlin-afde19576b1c
___________________________________________________________________________________
On Sunday, September 16, 2001, Kerik announced the discovery of one of the alleged hijackers' passports on the streets of New York. According to him a "passerby" came across the passport "several blocks" from the crash site. This was the passport of Satam al-Suqami. The "passerby" who allegedly discovered and turned in the passport was never identified.
Was the alleged passerby even real? Or were they a
figment of Kerik's imagination? We know what Kerik would say to all this.
According to him, conspiracy theorists are "retarded". But
Kerik is one to talk. He's been called a "hero" of 9/11 and he was
Bush's top pick for head of Homeland
Security. In 2003 he received a multi-million-dollar contract to train Iraqi
police. But military officials later said: "His whole contribution was a waste of time and effort."
Kerik wasn't just incompetent; he was also a criminal, engaged in corruption
and conspiracies of his own.
In 2006, he pleaded guilty to two ethics violations, and in 2009 pleaded guilty to eight federal charges. By doing so, investigators were willing to
overlook his other alleged wrongdoings: mortgage fraud, tax fraud, conspiracy
to eavesdrop, lying on his Homeland Security application. But there's more to
the story of his tax fraud. According to the New York Times, he received a 'loan' for $250,000 to renovate his Bronx apartment from a
New Jersey company, Interstate Industrial Corporation, which has been accused
of ties to organized crime. In return for their work, they allegedly wanted a
little 'help' obtaining a city license. After coming under scrutiny for the
'loan' in 2005, Kerik apparently repaid the money.
But that doesn't give the whole story. Another NYT piece
gives more detail:
In filing the charges, prosecutors with United
States attorney's office declined to identify a "wealthy Israeli
industrialist" said to have financed the loan or to name the
"Brooklyn businessman" said to have served as an intermediary in the
transaction, referring to them only as John Doe No. 7 and John Doe No. 8.
But interviews with people who have been briefed on the transaction indicate
that the industrialist was an Israeli billionaire and philanthropist, Eitan
Wertheimer, whose family's vast holdings include companies with United States
Defense Department contracts. The Brooklyn businessman was Shimon
Cohen, a marble and stone merchant who has been a friend of Mr. Kerik's for
several years. Mr. Wertheimer and Mr. Cohen ... declined to speak about
the loan or the reasons it was made to Mr. Kerik.
Two years ago, though, Mr. Cohen was interviewed by city investigators and
described the 2003 loan as an informal transaction. He said that in
handing the money over, he had not discussed any interest with Mr.
Kerik nor set any timetable for repayment ... The $250,000 loan to Mr.
Kerik was provided in a personal check written by Mr. Cohen to Mr.
Kerik's wife ... there was no written agreement that outlined the
terms of the loan.
The indictment says that the money actually came from the
wealthy industrialist, from whom Mr. Cohen had borrowed the funds. Prosecutors
have not offered any explanation as to what might have brought about the
transaction, or why Mr. Wertheimer did not provide the funds directly.
...
Mr. Wertheimer met Mr. Kerik through Mr. Cohen, a longtime friend, according to
associates, and the two spent time together during Mr. Kerik's trip to
Israel in August 2001. Later that year, as he left his New York City police
post, Mr. Kerik handed out 19 gold and blue enamel badges that declared the
recipients "Honorary Police Commissioners," and Mr.
Wertheimer received one, as did Mr. Berman and Judith Regan, then Mr.
Kerik's lover and publisher. [HK: Kerik allegedly used an apartment
near Ground Zero for his trysts with Regan - the apartment was supposed to be
used by exhausted 9/11 rescue workers.] The real estate developer
Steven C. Witkoff, who is listed in the indictment as John Doe No. 5, who paid
more than $236,000 in rent for Mr. Kerik from 2001 to 2003, also received one
of the badges.
In Israel, Mr. Wertheimer serves as chairman of Iscar Ltd., a privately held
metal cutting tool business that is one of Israel's largest companies and
one that sold 80 percent of its stock last year to Warren Buffett's Berkshire
Hathaway. The indictment referred to him as an industrialist whose companies
"did business with the federal government."
Wertheimer was chairman for metal-cutting tool
business Iscar, Ltd., one of Israel's largest companies. His father, Stef,
former Knesset member and notorious 'free-enterpriser', also happens to be
the second richest man in Israel. But did you catch that bit about a trip to Israel in August 2001,
where he met with his money-man Wertheimer? He traveled there for four days at
the end of August (video footage here). And you'll never guess why:
Shalom, Bernie. Police Commissioner Bernard Kerik
leaves tonight for a four-day trip to Israel, where he will meet with
government officials to discuss anti-terror tactics and Israeli traffickers of
Ecstasy pills. Kerik was invited to the violence-wracked region by Israel's
minister of public safety. Mayor Giuliani approved the trip. The visit is
considered official business, so New York City taxpayers are picking up the
tab. ... Kerik is not bringing any NYPD terrorist or narcotics experts
with him. ... Referring to the Ecstasy issue, Kerik said, "I think
I'll be giving them information with regard to seizures we've had and
intelligence we've had on narcotics trafficking and see if we can coordinate
better or work better together to address some of these issues. There
have been several federal and state prosecutions of drug dealers who are
Israeli nationals, but authorities believe Israel is a transshipment point
rather than a producer of the pills. Kerik himself is no stranger to the Middle
East and traveled to Israel before becoming commissioner. Before joining the
NYPD, he coordinated security for the Saudi royal family.
While in Israel, Kerik had this to say:
Kerik was in Jerusalem yesterday to discuss common
concerns, including terrorism and narcotics trafficking, with Israeli Police
Commissioner Shlomo Aharonishki. "I thought that if I'm going to come,
this is the time to come and send a clear message - you can't be
intimidated by terrorism," he said after the meeting. "People
shouldn't be afraid to come to Israel." Kerik also assured Israeli leaders
that the NYPD will remain on alert for attacks on Jewish institutions
in New York as long as Israeli-Palestinian fighting continues. The
department is working with the FBI and the New York State Police on an
anti-terrorism task force and is on top of all potential threats, Kerik said.
"We've been on what we call 'enhanced alert' for the past several months,
since the violence broke out here several months ago, and we've been doing just
fine," he said. "That alert status will remain as is until further
notice."
An operation like 9/11 can't succeed without immoral and conscienceless people like Kerik on the ground to make sure the proper narrative gets advanced, and that any contradictory facts are conveniently hushed up or covered over.
From article "Miraculous passports and trashed laptops:What do 9/11 and the Belgian bombings have in common?" https://www.sott.net/article/315176-Miraculous-passports-and-trashed-laptops-What-do-9-11-and-the-Belgian-bombings-have-in-common
___________________________________________________________________________________
NY Police Chief Full Of Praise
For Israel
Bernard B. Kerik, New York City Police Commissioner,
visiting in Israel this week, told Public Security Minister Uzi Landau and
Police Chief Shlomo Aharonishki yesterday that he chose to come to Israel
specifically earlier than planned, \"to demonstrate my deep solidarity
with the State of Israel and to bring the message that we must not give in to
terrorism.\"
Aug 31, 2001, 2:46 PM (GMT+3)
Bernard B. Kerik,
New York City Police Commissioner, visiting in Israel this week, told Public
Security Minister Uzi Landau and Police Chief Shlomo Aharonishki yesterday that
he chose to come to Israel specifically now, and not six weeks from now as he
had originally planned, \"to demonstrate my deep solidarity with the State
of Israel and to bring the message that we must not give in to
terrorism.\" Kerik visited Jerusalem, Masada and environs, and Caesarea,
where he observed police work, and everywhere had effusive praise for the
Israeli people and its brave stand in face of continued terrorism. Reporters
noted that Landau and Aharonishki were visibly moved by Kerik\'s words. Kerik
has been awarded 30 medals for heroism and excellence.
Source: https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/9037
(1): https://www.yahoo.com/news/bernie-kerik-former-nypd-commissioner-012243392.html
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