It seems like everyone is talking and writing about Rudy today, 259 stories just from searching Google News and there are hundreds more from the blogs. The question came to his face last night at the debate from Anderson Cooper and Rudy was ready to spin. His story was that he had no control over how funds were allocated and that he needs security 24/7. The problem is that he didn't answer why those funds were put into the budgets of obscure city agencies, like those governing lofts and dispensing funds for defense attorneys for those that can't afford them.
Rudy may be hoping that this story dies a quick death, but one refutation to his refutation is quite damning. Ed Koch is no friend to Democrats (even though he technically is one), but having been a Mayor of New York before Rudy, his words carry weight on the situation. Well, those words weren't pretty for the Presidential aspirant.
From The Huffington Post:
"There is something improper about charging costs to a department other than the NYPD," said Koch. "They are the ones who are supposed to pick him up no matter where he is whether or not it's in the city."
Koch, who served as the mayor of New York City from 1978 to 1989, said that the episode gave off the appearance that Giuliani, who was at the time married to his second wife Donna Hanover, was trying to hide his affair. He also argued that providing Judith Nathan her own personal protection (when she was not a member of the first family) constituted an even more flagrant misuse of taxpayer money.
"I found it strange that his lady friend was given protection," said the long-time New York politico. "That was bizarre. She's not the city's responsibility. Rudy is the city's responsibility. Your wife and his children get protection, and that's understood. But certainly not your lady friend."
Maybe he was trying to impress her, but one thing is for certain. Someone helped Rudy cover his ass, now the question is who is it and is he or she going to come clean about the affair? Rudy acted improperly and quite possibly in an illegal manner. If this story keeps running, it could spell the end for Mr. 9/11.
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