Country legend Charlie Daniels is “extremely pleased” with President Trump’s pardoning of former NYPD Commissioner Bernie Kerik, he said Tuesday.
The “Devil Went Down to Georgia” crooner was one of a handful of high-profile names to endorse Kerik’s full pardoning after he pleaded guilty in 2009 to tax fraud and lying to White House officials.
“He’s a great American, and I was happy to vouch for him,” said Daniels. “I’m extremely pleased with the pardon.”
Trump included Kerik, 64, among 10 other convicts whose sentences he either pardoned or commuted Tuesday — including disgraced former Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich and Eddie DeBartolo Jr., the San Francisco 49ers owner who brought the team five Super Bowl championships.
Kerik served three years of a four-year sentence before he was released from prison in May 2013.
Daniels said he met Kerik several years ago when he invited the former top cop to participate in Daniels’ charity organization to help veterans, The Journey Home Project.
“We invited him a few years ago to a charity event — and he’ has been doing it ever since and I’ve been friends with him ever since,” Daniels said. “He’s a very charitable, kind person — always ready to do anything for you that he can possibly can.”
Daniels said he and others at the organization were always moved by Kerik’s speeches at charity events, where he would offer a retelling of his response as police commissioner to 9/11.
“He brings 9/11 home like nobody I’ve ever heard do it — what happened and where he was; the officers he lost and what traumas families went through … it was absolutely captivating,” Daniels said.
Along with Daniels, Kerik had the backing from former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani, who is also Trump’s private attorney, as well as GOP Rep. Peter King and Fox News talking heads Judge Andrew Napolitano and Geraldo Rivera.
“Bernie is a friend who served NYC and America with distinction,” King tweeted. “Very appropriate action by POTUS.”