Giuliani denies accounting wrongdoing

NEW YORK, Nov. 29 (UPI) -- Republican presidential hopeful Rudy Giuliani denies any wrongdoing regarding accounting of security expenses for trips he took while mayor of New York.

Giuliani questioned the timing of reports calling attention to records that include at least $34,000 in security and travel costs on personal trips during his last year as mayor, CNN reported Thursday. The report surfaced Wednesday before a national Republican debate.

"I thought the way the story was presented was like a hit job," Giuliani told CNN.

He denied doing anything improper, saying the expenses were "perfectly appropriate."

The report, on the Politico Web site, cited documents obtained under the New York State Freedom of Information Law, The New York Times reported. The documents were unclear whether Giuliani charged some travel costs to the budgets of obscure city offices to conceal expenses associated with his extramarital affair with Judy Nathan, who Giuliani subsequently married.

Anthony Carbonetti, a Giuliani political adviser, said suggestions Giuliani was trying to hide expenses were "nonsense."

Meanwhile, ABCNews.com reported Nathan had a police driver and city car before her relationship with Giuliani became public.

"She used the PD as her personal taxi service," said one former city official.