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Cunningham: I'm a Liar and a Crook
Even after Duke Cunningham pled guilty to accepting millions in bribes, he'd still tried to cast himself as somehow less than thoroughly greedy and corrupt. He'd accepted gifts from defense contractors, yes, and sure, he'd been instrumental in procuring tens of millions in government contracts for them, but that doesn't mean they were bribes.
Well, a year in prison seems to have clarified things for Cunningham. Investigators sat down with him in February of this year, and as the FBI's summary, obtained by The San Diego Union-Tribune, shows, Cunningham was straightforward about the extent of his corruption: He asked for, got, and worked to conceal bribes.
That's bad news for Brent Wilkes, who's been indicted for bribing Cunningham. Wilkes has gamely argued that he didn't bribe Cunningham, so much as play the game the way it has to be played. "Transactional lobbying," is Wilkes' name for it, and that's apparently what he plans to argue to a jury -- that he was extorted, that he was a victim of Washington's culture.
Unfortunately for Wilkes, Cunningham says the two went to an awful lot of trouble to conceal their activity. As the Union-Trib points out, that means Cunningham will likely make an appearance at Wilkes' trial as an unfriendly witness. Cunningham also confirms that Wilkes procured prostitutes for the both of them during a trip to Hawaii, something that Wilkes has denied (Cunningham says that Wilkes took the “younger and cuter” one for himself).
There were a couple more notable revelations concerning some old questions: Cunningham says that there were no prostitutes at those Watergate poker games. Mitchell Wade, the other of Cunningham's main bribes, has reportedly told investigators otherwise.
The FBI report and an earlier search warrant affidavit from the investigation also revealed that Thomas Kontogiannis, the shadowy Greek businessman who's pled guilty to channeling corrupt payments to Cunningham, was more involved than previously known. Kontogiannis not only bribed Cunningham himself, but also laundered more than $1 million in bribes from Wilkes -- something made easy through his more than 70 bank accounts. And in return for all that help, Kontogiannis apparently wanted help with a sale of fighter jets to Greece. That's in addition to his known use of Cunningham to meet leaders like President Bush and the Crown Prince of Saudi Arabia.
Josh
Zachary
Cunningham also confirms that Wilkes procured prostitutes for the both of them during a trip to Hawaii, something that Wilkes has denied (Cunningham says that Wilkes took the “younger and cuter” one for himself).
Duke was a pilot--he knows how to be the wingman!
July 18, 2007 3:00 PM | Reply | Permalink
Man, a year in prision while your equally corrupt former pals try to blame you for everything certainly clears the mind. I hope the Dukster sings like a diva at the Met.
July 18, 2007 3:32 PM | Reply | Permalink
If a year broke Cunningham, it would have definitely broken Libby.
July 18, 2007 3:46 PM | Reply | Permalink
Has anyone heard rumblings as to when the D.C. Grand Jury convening re Wilkes and Foggo's other activities might be ready to bring indictments? Originally a leak to AP last August suggested last September. 10 months since have passed and not a peep that I am aware of! Have begun to wonder if there has been political interference like happened in San Diego with US Attorney Lam.
As for Wilkes claiming he is a victim of Washington's ways...he left behind plenty of direct victims and all Americans are indirect victims! Wilkes is a victim solely of his personal greed and loose ethics! Last October it came-out that he had been granted full control of most of the federal government's grants programs. Two months prior it was leaked he and Foggo were being linked to Russia. At the same time Wilkes had companies with technological ideas of merit declined grants, the Russian federal government was throwing 100 % financing at them! Know this because my company was one of the companies involved. Lockheed works for the Russians, too. Lockheed controlled (still controls) all the DHS pilot programs and did the FSB's biddings by having the same tech companies of interest to the Russians, denied pilots as punishment for refusing to do business with the Russian oligarchs. All the members of Voluntary Credentialing Industry Coalition are apart of the Cunningham probe and overlap with the Abramoff corruption probe. Also, I am pretty sure the FSB is financing homegrown terror cells (and likely was behind the financing of 911) so that we keep buying the crut the DHS and TSA adopted courtesy of Lockheed and Wilkes' control of the respective programs. Most of the companies such as Saflink, Savy Technology and the like had contracts in Russia by 2005. They didn't fill the contracts but were paid so I am assuming the payment was for sharing the source code used in DHS programs with the FSB...the Russian Mafia. Lockheed has since bought many of these companies it awarded contracts to so is now awarding contracts to itself. Also, the acquisitions enabled the Russian mob to increase their number of shares of Lockheed since many of the acquisitions involved stock swapping.
I have just laid-out a lot of reasons (Actually have plenty more) why the D.C. Grand Jury hasn't brought indictments, but still...am wondering if there are any rumors if the Grand Jury finally is close to bringing the Wilkes-Foggo indictments in D.C.
July 18, 2007 5:32 PM | Reply | Permalink
anonymous,
You seem to have some valuable insight on this case, maybe it would be useful to prosecutors, provided they're not the purged ones. Anybody know who they are? Are'nt they the ones who replaced Carol Lam afterall?
If my tax dollars are funding graft, as it now appears, the US is in deep doo doo. This jailhouse interview proves it.
July 18, 2007 10:34 PM | Reply | Permalink
OMGthePatriots has it right. Get soem of these people in prison for a long one and they will be figuring out who to roll on and cooperate with the DOJ's effort to clean up.
And yes, the Duke's prosecutor was fired by the DOJ but she did well through the revolving door.
Nothing Other [to] Say..Egregious
July 19, 2007 4:32 AM | Reply | Permalink
This is pretty funny...the quote on how Wilkes got the younger and cuter hooker is hillarious. I read in (The Nation I think) a piece on Cunningham right after he was sent away, and his handwritten words in a letter to the press was pretty astonishing...this guy was really an idiot. Couldn't write a sentence to save his life.
Amazing who they hand power to in the GOP, isn't it?
July 20, 2007 1:01 AM | Reply | Permalink