Witnesses testify how former lawmaker may have been bribed (Hastert mentioned)

[maddezmom]

Source: ap

SAN DIEGO Super Bowl box seats, high-end golf trips, private jet flights and an array of other treats were enough to gain a defense contractor unfettered access to former U.S. Rep. Randy "Duke" Cunningham, a key witness in the contractor's bribery case claimed.

Joel Combs, whose uncle Brent Wilkes is accused of paying the disgraced congressman $700,000 in cash and perks for help securing some $90 million in government contracts, testified Wednesday that Wilkes gained a direct line to the lawmaker's ear.
~snip~

Wilkes also paid to fly Cunningham and former House Speaker Dennis Hastert, R-Ill., from a golf outing in Palm Springs to San Diego for a reception and then back to Washington on private jets, Combs testified.

Combs told prosecutors he didn't recall Cunningham ever volunteering to cover his share of the expenses. But Combs said on cross-examination by defense attorney Mark Geragos that he would not have been responsible for processing any reimbursements and did not know whether company accountants ever billed the congressman or his campaigns. He also said that Cunningham occasionally paid for wine at dinner with Wilkes.


Read more: http://www.dailycomet.com/article/20071018/APN/710180569

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Prostitutes take the stand in bribery trial of contractor linked to Rep. Cunningham
The Associated Press
Tucson, Arizona | Published: 10.18.2007

SAN DIEGO — A prostitute whom prosecutors say a defense contractor provided to former Rep. Randy "Duke" Cunningham testified Wednesday that the congressman fed her grapes as she sat naked in a hot tub before they headed to a bedroom at a Hawaiian resort.

The woman spoke at the trial of Brent Wilkes, who is accused bribing Cunningham with $700,000 in cash and perks in exchange for help securing about $90 million in government contracts. Wilkes has denied the charges.

Donna Rosetta said she was chauffeured to a private villa at the Hapuna Beach Prince Hotel in Kamelua, Hawaii, in August 2003 by an escort service she worked for. Cunningham and Wilkes invited her and a second woman to undress and slide into a hot tub before Cunningham invited her upstairs, Rosetta said.

"They were smoking cigars and talking about some meeting they had earlier," Rosetta said.
She and Cunningham went to a bedroom, and he tipped her $50 to $80, she said.

The other woman, Tammy McFadden, testified that Wilkes and Cunningham appeared to be arguing about who would go upstairs with which woman.

more:http://www.azstarnet.com/sn/news/206864.php


Edited to add this for background:
House Members Resist Testifying in Contractor Trial

By Paul Kane
washingtonpost.com Staff Writer
Wednesday, September 19, 2007; Page A07

The defense contractor charged with bribing convicted former congressman Randy "Duke" Cunningham has subpoenaed 13 House members, including former speaker J. Dennis Hastert, to testify in his federal trial.

But the 13 lawmakers are refusing the subpoena, and the House general counsel sent lawyers for the contractor, Brent R. Wilkes, a letter saying that it was overly broad and "did not elaborate as to what testimony you seek from each member."

Wilkes has been indicted on more than 30 counts, including fraud and money laundering, as one of several alleged conspirators who paid more than $2.4 million in bribes to the California Republican. Cunningham is serving an eight-year prison term after pleading guilty to steering millions of dollars in government business to Wilkes and other defense contractors.


more:http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/09/18/AR2007091801790.html

[MorningGlow]

1. Ahhhh

THERE'S the motivation for resignation--I get it now.

I love the smell of Jabba flopsweat in the morning!
:rofl:

[aquart]

2. I suspect that was the wrong kind of prostitute for Denny.

[nashville_brook]

3. so, this case is going active again and that's why Hasturd resigned?

ignoring the subpoena -- how surprising.

[dingaling]

4. More like "HouseTurd"

[nashville_brook]

6. perfect!

[kineneb]

5. now poking out mind's eye- eeeuww. nt.