Rudy Guiliani 's leadership of our great City (particularly during those emotionally wrenching months which followed the terrorist attack of September 11, 2001), never gave New Yorkers pause to question his commitment to restoring order, enhancing security, and improving his constituents' quality of life.
But the "scandal" which involves reported abuses of a security detail (while he was Mayor) to chauffeur around Judy Nathan , his then "significant other," have caused some to question Rudy's judgment.
If the allegations are true, Rudy must reimburse the City for the costs that were incurred for his "personal" use of our police force .
As we have previously reported, public servants have been taken to task, and have incurred fines and penalties, for much less serious infractions.
Relatively inane missteps -- like using City letterhead and telephones for private purposes -- have cost people their jobs. ( One poor lady was fined by the New York City Conflicts of Interest Board for merely renting an apartment in her home to a subordinate.)
If Rudy -- a lawyer and former prosecutor -- allowed his then mistress to use the NYPD as a virtual taxi service while he was a public servant, then he must also " pay the piper ."
(The then Mayor and his advisers must have known or suspected that the conduct violated the City Charter. At a minimum, they should have anticipated that such actions would have triggered an "appearance" of impropriety and should been avoided engaging in that activity.)
A video , forwarded to us by a reader, attempts to offer some insight into the debacle. To view it, please use this link: " Guiliani for President? "