Mr. Kerik's lawyer, Joseph Tacopina, said his client was unfazed by the decision. "Having his name on a building or not doesn't change his legacy as correction commissioner," Mr. Tacopina said.

He emphasized that the charges to which Mr. Kerik pleaded guilty were "unclassified misdemeanors" and not violations of the state penal code.

I'll bet Kerik is unfazed, since he made $6.2 million on the sale of his stock options in the stun gun company, Taser International and can probably just write a check for both his fines and his legal fees with no sweat.

Records filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission show Kerik had earned more than 6.2 million dollars in pretax profits through stock options he was granted by Taser International, a manufacturer of stun guns. Kerik sold most of the stocks last month and the White House has said the former police commissioner would resign from Taser's board and sell his remaining stock if confirmed by the Senate.

But, I wonder if the distinction as to the nature of the misdemeanors matters to anyone but Bernie.

Rudy probably knows better than to use it as a defense when he's asked about his continual support of Bernie on the 2008 campaign trail. Let's see him live this one down -- here's Rudy's press release for the 2001 dedication ceremony of Kerik's House of Detention, which, if you keep scrolling down through the photos, you can see was launched with great pomp and fanfare.

"I am proud to have had Bernard Kerik serve in my Administration, and delighted that the renaming of this complex will serve as a lasting reminder of his many important achievements."

As to the pomp, scroll down even more to the program notes:

Presentation of Colors:
NYC DOC, Ceremonial Unit

National Anthem:
Captain Michael Ficco

Invocation:
Rabbi Leib Glanz

Musical Selection:
NYC DOC, Emerald Pipe Band

Remarks and Dedication:
Commissioner William J. Fraser

Remarks, Guest of Honor:
Bernard B. Kerik, Commissioner
New York City Police Department

Benediction:
Rabbi Leib Glanz

Because it will probably disappear from the web as fast as Bernie's name was stripped from the building, here's a photo of the Bernard B. Kerik Detention Complex, in all its glory.