Lost in the early media coverage today about the expected indictment of former New York Police Commissioner Bernard Kerik on tax charges is the fact that Kerik served as a partner and right hand man to former Mayor Rudy Giuliani when they both went into business together.

Nowadays, judging by press coverage of the Giuliani campaign, you’d think that Kerik was nothing more than a good political appointee for Giuliani and not much more. In fact, Kerik is perhaps not even the biggest ethical issue swirling about Giuliani, given the close hold his campaign and his business partners have put on Giuliani and Associates.

Now, Kerik can’t get his calls returned from the Giuliani camp unless it’s to block potential help. Kerik allowed friends to set up a legal defense fund and after an initial attempt by some to contact major Giuliani donors for assistance, says one Kerik friend, Kerik was told to stop out of concern for potential political fallout.

Kerik is still working, however. He was spotted in Washington two weeks ago, being chauffered around with security in a large SUV.