NEW YORK, Dec. 23 (UPI) -- Former New York Police Commissioner Bernard Kerik quit Rudy Giuliani's consulting firm just weeks after dropping his bid to be homeland security secretary.
"The events surrounding my withdrawal have become an unfair and unnecessary distraction to the firm and the important work being done there. I am confident that I will be vindicated from any allegation of wrongdoing," Kerik said Wednesday at a press conference outside The Pierre hotel on Fifth Avenue, the New York Post reported. He did not take any questions.
Kerik was President Bush's first choice to replace outgoing Homeland Security Secretary Tom Ridge, and he came with glowing praise from former New York Mayor Giuliani. Kerik and Giuliani both apologized to the president after a series of embarrassing revelations, including allegations of multiple extramarital affairs, shady business dealings and the employment of an illegal immigrant.
