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(Allegedly) Corrupt Contractors Are People, Too
For those haven't read it, don't go a minute more without reading Brent Wilkes' fiery declaration of innocence released yesterday (here it is in full (pdf)).
Reminiscent in tone of Mel Gibson's rallying speech in Braveheart, Wilkes' statement railed against thuggish prosecutors (outgoing U.S. Attorney Carol Lam chief among them) and slippery newsmen out to smear his reputation and make his children cry:
My family--immeasurably and irreversibly wounded by an 18 month Lam-led vendetta-- has been the source of my strength , but nothing in life prepares you for the helpless feeling of trying to comfort a child who cries in anger or fear resulting from a false 'news' story or a cruel comment from a classmate....The indictments themselves reflect the tawdry nature of the so-called 'investigation,' partly phony tabloid journalism, partly the handiwork of prosecutors more interested in forcing me to plead guilty to something I did not do than in learning the truth.
Apparently consciously, Wilkes' statement echoes Duke Cunningham's earlier letter from prison (in full here) to the reporters at The San Diego Union-Tribune who landed him there, which came to them in an envelope addressed to “Copley News tabloid” with the word “tabloid” underlined (Copley is the SDUT's parent company).
As Cunningham did, Wilkes promises his ultimate vindication. The difference between the two, of course, is that Cunningham pled guilty, and Wilkes' apparently wants everything -- the pay-offs, the prostitutes, etc. -- aired before a jury.
Comments (9)
NCProsecutor wrote on February 15, 2007 12:10 PM:As much as we'd all like to see this go to a jury, it will never happen. The administration's new hand-picked USA won't let it (too much exposure of the GOP's culture of corruption), and Wilkes' attorneys will convince him to plead to something that will let him get out of federal prison before he's an old man.
kreine wrote on February 15, 2007 12:15 PM:"...Cunningham pled guilty, and Wilkes' apparently wants everything -- the pay-offs, the prostitutes, etc. -- aired before a jury."
Crying in shame, nimbus, & the airing of the laundry will do little to soothe the burn.
Maybe he figures since he deleted the emails, he can't get caught? Computer illiteracy leads to a lot of bad calls.
Anonymous wrote on February 15, 2007 12:16 PM:Tom DeLay's "fiery" rebuttal was similar. That is, until he resigned. Wilkes doesn't have that option.
tom baker wrote on February 15, 2007 12:52 PM:At least Cunningham had the stones to come clean.
His pals appear to be craven, lying pussies (like DeLay).
Mrs Panstreppon wrote on February 15, 2007 1:44 PM:Wilkes's attorney, Mark J, Geragos, a high-priced and high-powered. Geragos has represented Susan McDougal, Michael Jackson, Gary Condit, Winona Ryder and Scott Peterson among others.
I wonder if the defense legal strategy was to wait until Carol Lam was out of the way and then negotiate with whoever takes her place. I'm thinking Wilkes will not want to cooperate with the DOJ as part of a plea deal.
With Mitchell Wade spilling his guts, it will be hard for Wilkes to get off if his case goes to trial.
Agjobs wrote on February 15, 2007 3:20 PM:Yes Brent there is nothing worse than the cry of a child whose father won't be coming home from Iraq because corrupt contractors stole the money that should have gone to up armored Humvees. Save your self rightous indignation for the jury. You are going to need it. Say hi to Duke for us. Tap out his name in morse code on the cell door late at night after your new roomate rolls off of you and goes to sleep. Or maybe you will get lucky and you and Foggo can share a cell since he wants to "be your partner for life" or until parole which ever comes first.
Horton Heath wrote on February 15, 2007 6:08 PM:One can only wonder at content of the seminars/colloquia held by the Federalist Society to prepare the incoming US Attorneys to stylishly, "Take a Dive," in Wilkes' and other high-profile cases pending.
The need to dismantle our court system has been an article of faith among the neo-Cons and their bankrollers. This is manifest in their constant harping for "tort reform" and continuous refrain that it is Runaway Jury Awards and Frivolous Lawsuits which are driving your doctor's malpractice rates up...as if eight quarters of bad investments on the part malpractive carriers is just an "oopsie."
Locking up Cunningham was a Good Start. Failing to lock up Wilkes should be cause to start boiling the tar and slitting open the pillows.
And I though Nixon was a scumbag...
johnnyj wrote on February 16, 2007 10:05 AM:Like kids in a candy store are these cry baby crooks, They saw that the press was in their pockets, they saw the thugs in the white house were banking billions and they thought none would stop them. In fact their gamble was America would never be the same again so they like everyone in their party grabbed as much as they could because not a one of them has an ounce of honor. To me honor is thinking just because I can does'nt mean I will. We need to start at the top and work down because Rove like Hoover carries that little black book with him and uses it daily. Impeach and then give the white house a new paint color like red.
Richard L. Adlof wrote on February 16, 2007 12:07 PM:I re-read our best boy Brent's Declaration of Insolence . . . I could not find the section stating that he was checking into rehab . . . Then I realized that denial and rage comes before barginning and acceptance . . .