UPDATE 5-Bush homeland security nominee Kerik withdraws
Sat Dec 11, 2004 01:33 AM ET
(Adds Giuliani reaction, paragraphs 16-17)
By Adam Entous
WASHINGTON, Dec 10 (Reuters) - U.S. President George W. Bush's pick to become homeland security secretary, former New York police commissioner Bernard Kerik, abruptly withdrew his nomination on Friday due to what he said were questions over the immigration status of a housekeeper and nanny he employed.
Kerik's surprise decision sent the White House scrambling for a new candidate to oversee the nation's sprawling Department of Homeland Security, charged with helping prevent a repeat of the Sept. 11, 2001 attacks.
Bush's current homeland security adviser, Frances Townsend, is one possible candidate. Others include Undersecretary Asa Hutchinson and Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney.
Kerik, 49, nominated by Bush little more than a week ago, said in his withdrawal letter to the president that he discovered the problems about his housekeeper and nanny while completing documents required for Senate confirmation to the post, whose duties include enforcement of immigration laws.
Kerik's is the latest high-level nomination since the 1990s derailed by tax and immigration issues related to domestic help.
"I uncovered information that now leads me to question the immigration status of a person who had been in my employ as a housekeeper and nanny. It has also been brought to my attention that for a period of time during such employment required tax payments and related filings had not been made," he said.
AI
