Cunningham Figure in Secret HearingThomas Kontogiannis, long the most mysterious link in the Duke Cunningham bribery case, has continued to be something of a mystery even after pleading guilty to channeling millions in corrupt payments to Cunningham. He pled guilty back in February — a fact that did not become public until June. An even now, it remains unclear whether Kontogiannis will be cooperating and against whom he might testify.
What’s clear is that prosecutors really want to keep the details surrounding Kontogiannis’ plea secret. The Cunningham case, of course, has reached deep into the CIA with the prosecution of the former executive director Dusty Foggo. Does Kontogiannis have more information to provide about Foggo? Or does the classified information concerning his case run in a different vein?
This morning, the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals will hold a completely closed hearing on whether the transcripts of Kontogiannis’ prior hearings should remain sealed, something, The San Diego Union-Tribune reports, that’s unprecedented in recent history.