Byko: Kenney: I am not a crook

OK, Mayor Kenney never used those words uttered by Richard Nixon, but he casually deflected the probe in the finances of his campaign.

The FBI is looking into those finances, it is believed (the FBI won't say), part of the ongoing investigation into Local 98 and its leader, political powerhouse John Dougherty. Kenney and Dougherty are allies.

For the record, I don't think Jim Kenney is a crook. Once upon a time I was close to him. He was honest then, and I believe he is honest now.

He's not a crook, but he is a shnook.

"I think the federal government is doing their job, and we're going to accommodate their requests for information every step of the way," he said.

Now that is very interesting.

Why?

Because he refuses to accommodate the same federal government when it makes a request, through Immigration and Customs Enforcement, to be informed of the imminent release of someone here illegally who has already been convicted of a crime.

In his self-righteous determination to shield foreign convicted criminals from removal, he has made Philadelphia a Sanctuary City and violates federal law by not cooperating. To Kenney, law is like a buffet. Just take the stuff you like and leave the rest.

I'd rather he be a crook. A crook just steals money. A shnook enables foreign criminals to strike again and this puts all Philadelphians at risk.