Post columnist Cindy Adams paid a visit to corrupt former NYPD commissioner Bernie Kerik at his New Jersey home, just days before yesterday's sentencing. It's pretty engrossing stuff, especially if you enjoy reading about arrogant, self-serving public officials brought to their greedy knees. To pass the time during home confinement, Kerik's been working on a novel (with a ghost writer) about terrorists. And when he gets out of prison he plans to "maybe try counseling. Teaching that the lessons learned are you can't cut corners." Perhaps the hardest part about all this is the way people he thought were his friends, like Rudy Giuliani, have completely abandoned him:

"Haven't heard from him. You don't know your friends until this happens. I've been ignored by them all."

Heard from any of Rudy's inner circle?

"No."

Has Bernie himself reached out to them?

"No . . . Look, I admit I haven't heard from him. But I don't want to discuss that further."

"I do," said [his wife] Hala who, on this freezing night, was bringing us hot tea in the living room. "Bernie's as disappointed as I am, but he'll never say it publicly. Way too loyal. He'd go to his grave before he turned against Rudy. Rudy's my kids' godfather. I'm disappointed for my daughters. They've done nothing to deserve this. He hasn't even sent word through friends. People are reluctant to be in touch. They don't want to be intimidated."

Jeez, you hang a garland of corruption around the neck of the politician to whom you owe your career and this is the thanks you get! Speaking of Giuliani, he didn't send a single letter to the judge as Kerik's sentence was being weighed, and today he abruptly canceled a public appearance at City Hall, where he was to have endorsed Republican congressional candidate Michael Grimm. But he probably has a good excuse, no doubt having something to do with 9/11.

During yesterday's sentencing—which was attended by such luminaries as Geraldo Rivera—Judge Stephen C. Robinson took the rare step of going beyond the sentence recommended by prosecutors, sentencing Kerik to four years in prison because he betrayed the public’s trust. "I think it’s fair to say that with great power comes great responsibility and great consequences," Judge Robinson said. "I think the damage caused by Mr. Kerik is in some ways immeasurable."
Prosecutors wanted to send Kerik up river immediately, but he was allowed return to his Franklin Lakes, NJ, home while officials choose a prison. He must surrender voluntarily by May 17th. Outside the court, Kerik told the press, "I’d like to apologize to the American people for the mistakes I’ve made and for which I have just accepted responsibility. As history is written, I can only hope that I will be judged for the 30 years of service I have given to this country and the city of New York."