Partnering with former New York Mayor Rudolph Giuliani (news - web sites) and also operating independently, Kerik has had business arrangements with manufacturers of prescription drugs, computer software and bulletproof materials, as well as companies selling nuclear power, telephone service, insurance and security advice for Americans working abroad.
The man who led the New York Police Department on Sept. 11, 2001, has been effusively praised by Senate Republicans and Democrats for his management during and after the attacks. He served the Defense Department in Iraq (news - web sites) in 2003 as interior minister under the former U.S. occupation authority.
Federal ethics rules state that executive branch employees should avoid participating in decisions where their impartiality could be questioned, unless they receive approval from an agency ethics official.
Kerik's office said he was not available for comment for this story, but a White House spokesman, Brian Besanceney, said the nominee would avoid any possible conflict of interest.
"Commissioner Kerik is committed to the highest ethical standards and will divest all his holdings in Taser upon Senate confirmation to avoid a conflict of interest," Besanceney said. "In order to avoid even the appearance of a conflict he will comply with all ethics laws and rules to avoid actions that affect former clients or organizations where he served as a director."
http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&cid=512&ncid=703&e=8&u=/ap/20041209/ap_on_go_co/kerik_s_stock_options