Bernard Kerik was indicted today on 16 federal counts, including conspiracy, fraud, and lying to investigtors, and he faces up to $4.7 million in fines and 142 years behind bars. The ex-New York City police commissioner pleaded guilty and later described himself as "disappointed that the government has brought forward this case," CNN reports.
Kerik was released on $500,000 bail. The indictment spells trouble for Rudy Giuliani, who has defended his onetime protégé's performance while allowing he erred in promoting Kerik's nomination as homeland security secretary, the Daily News reports. "I made a mistake in not clearing him effectively enough," Giuliani said yesterday in Iowa. (More Rudy Giuliani stories.)