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Bill Weld: Kerik Won’t Hurt Giuliani

Bill Weld

Weld at last night’s party, looking all Matthew
Modine.Photo: Patrick McMullan

Don’t worry about that little Kerik corruption indictment; it won’t have any effect on the presidential campaign of Rudy Giuliani. Or at least that’s the political calculation of William Weld, former governor of Massachusetts, brief candidate for New York governor, and now lawyer. “I don’t think it sticks to Rudy,” Weld told us last night at the Atlantic Monthly 150th-anniversary party. And just why might a federal indictment charges of the former bodyguard Giuliani appointed to police commissioner (the job detail: keep Americans safe) and then recommend for the national post of Homeland Security director (job detail: keep Americans safe) give us a reason to question Giuliani’s judgment? Weld’s response: “I don’t think anyone is ever going to believe that Rudy Giuliani has a corrupt bone in his body. I’m sure people will cavil, but I don’t think they really should. I was with Rudy in the Justice Department, and he’s the straightest guy that ever walked.” And this from a guy who’s rooting for Romney. —Geoffrey Gray

Bill Weld: Kerik Won’t Hurt Giuliani