A Poway defense contractor accused of bribing Randy "Duke" Cunningham will soon get the chance to present his defense to a federal jury. Brent Wilkes is facing charges of money laundering, fraud, conspiracy and providing Cunningham with more than $600,000 in bribes. Reporter Seth Hettena has more.
Federal prosecutors say they may rest their case against Brent Wilkes by the day's end. One of the final witnesses will be Joel Combs, Wilkes' nephew, who began his testimony yesterday. Combs was the second employee hired at his uncle's company, ADCS Incorporate. He testified that Wilkes was lobbying Congressman Cunningham for the earmarks from the beginning.
Asked what Cunningham would be willing to do for his uncle, Combs replied "anything." Combs also said that Cunningham's limited intelligence was something of a joke to his uncle.
Other potential witnesses include two prostitutes who joined Wilkes and Cunningham in a hot tub during a lavish 2003 vacation to Hawaii. The government is not likely to call the former congressman.
At the downtown courthouse, I'm Seth Hettena for KPBS News.
