The prosecution has rested its case against Brent Wilkes, the Poway defense contractor who's accused of bribing Randy “Duke” Cunningham. A picture of incredible corruption emerged over seven days of trial. Reporter Seth Hettena has more.
The prosecution presented jurors with the picture of a corrupt congressman who was willing to do anything for the defense contractor who supplied him with over $600,000 in bribes. Testimony detailed the gifts that Wilkes provided Cunningham over a ten-year period, including vacations, chartered jet flights and hundreds of meals at expensive restaurants.
In return, Wilkes received unparalleled access to Cunningham. The congressman made Wilkes his top priority, directed millions of dollars in pork-barrel contracts to ADCS and bullied Defense Department officials who questioned the company's performance.
By 2003, another defense contractor was bribing Cunningham and Wilkes arranged a lavish Hawaii trip to get back in Cunningham's good graces. Two prostitutes Wilkes hired for Cunningham were the government's final witnesses.
For KPBS News, I'm Seth Hettena in San Diego.
