Reports out of South Carolina, where Rudy was campaigning today, indicate that he may be digging in on the Judi-and-security-expenses story.
MSNBC says he refused to take questions after an appearance: “ 'We’ve already explained it,' he said, walking past reporters after a town hall meeting. Giuliani, who is normally friendly to reporters, bristled past them, and campaign staffers were unusually physical in keeping the press away. Several campaign aides told campaign reporters to return to the press area, and some of his security detail manhandled reporters."
Giuliani still hasn't explained why security and travel expenses including visits to the East End where then-girlfriend Judi lived were billed to obscure mayoral agencies in 1999-2001. And he got no help from Ray Kelly, current NYPD chief, today. But he does seem to have re-channeled coverage from a misspending/adultery story into an accounting story. Maybe he hopes it'll now die over the weekend.
Notably, Mitt Romney, campaigning in Iowa, declined an invitation to weigh in. The press can only keep it alive for so long, without help. But Romney did manage to point out that Rudy hasn't really answered the core question, so maybe Mitt's just ...
keeping his powder dry: "He hasn’t really laid out at this stage his full explanation for all that was shown. So my view is let’s give him the benefit of the doubt until he has a chance to do that.”
For what it's worth: Newsday reports today that documents dumped by City Hall last night indicate that the strange billing practices were not limited to Rudy, or trips to Long Island, or even security-details. It included travel by ex-wife Donna Hanover, mayoral aide Tony Carbonetti, city lobbyist Pat Piscitelli.
So: It begins to feel like a generic accounting practice for certain expenses, rather than a hide-Judi practice. One theory: They were shifting expenses to make the mayor's office look thriftier than it was, a little three-card monte. But how can they say that now?
-- John Riley, Tony DeStefano, Karla Schuster
Comments (2)
Just keep digging you'll find more and more. The wall is starting to crack just keep it up! Was Bernie's slush fund used to finanace these sorid trips as well.
As you are no doubt aware, the Hamptons are flooded with illegals who do landscaping. I'll bet that either the Condo complex or at Rudi's new home -illegals are employed. Please give me some credit if you investigate and prove me correct.