Defense Contractor's House of Cards

[Zorro]

From the front page of the San Diego local fishwrap this morning -- a few columns about how Brent Wilkes operated. Cuban cigars for the poker players!

<snip>

Swirling with liquor, cigar smoke, bawdy jokes and spirited hands of poker, the gatherings were like an all-American night out with the boys.

But the parties – held for more than a decade in posh suites at the luxurious Watergate and Grand Westin hotels in Washington, D.C. – were anything but small-town Americana.

Participants included CIA agents, lobbyists, defense contractors and, occasionally, staffers and members of Congress. The cigars included the best that could be bought from Fidel Castro's Cuba. Some of the players arrived in Mercedes-Benz limousines hired by the host, Poway defense contractor Brent Wilkes.

The poker games provide a window into the way Wilkes befriended powerful people, including former Rep. Randy “Duke” Cunningham, who could help him get millions of dollars in federal contracts. Because of published reports that the hotel suites were sometimes visited by prostitutes – which Wilkes heatedly denies – the bribery scandal is now known in some circles as “Hookergate.”

<snip>

More at: http://www.signonsandiego.com/news/politics/cunningham/20060528-9999-1n28poker.html

I hope Duncan Hunter is in the investigator's gunsights now.

[spindrifter]

1. Interesting that these guys were into the rendition

transportation contracting. Since Wilkes lost out, due to his Cunningham connection, I wonder who did get the contract to transport people who were being rendered. Several hundred million dollars is a substantial chunk of change.

[norml]

2. Thanks!

I can use this for my next show.

[NorthernSun]

3. This is breaking news on Iran-Contra connection

Don't understand why this post was moved. Looks like new info to me.

[tanyev]

4. Wait...aren't those the very same people who are the most rabid

about boycotting Cuba? Isn't that, oh, HYPOCRITICAL for them to smoke Cuban cigars? Or do those rules only apply to the little people?

[arikara]

5. I'll bet blackmail

is the prime purpose for "hookergate". I have a feeling this is going to be hugh!

[cascadiance]

6. Here's another article on Wilkes here on MSNBC...

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/13006800/site/newsweek

A good pic of Cunningham being hauled into court too...



Interesting that Bilbray, who's running against Busby in a week or two for the special election, denies any contact or knowing of Wilkes... Anyone have any pics to the contrary here?

"...His life is getting lonelier. He has been dropped by charities; his office building is for sale; his federal contracts are drying up. Once a ubiquitous figure in San Diego politics, Wilkes might as well have ceased to exist. Former San Diego congressman Brian Bilbray, a Republican who was in the House until 2001 before retiring to become a lobbyist, is running for Duke Cunningham's vacated seat. Bilbray told NEWSWEEK, "I may have met Brent once or twice, but I really do not remember." Bilbray did discover that Wilkes had donated $7,000 to his campaigns, but the candidate has given the money to charity. "I wouldn't know Wilkes if I saw him in the street," said Bilbray."


I'm going to try and hang out at the Miami Grille here (Cuban restaurant in Poway), to see if there might not be some of the "Poway Mafia" that might hang out here, or other info on them that might be "enlightening". They do serve good Jerk Chicken there! Had some there about a week ago or so...

[eppur_se_muova]

7. Good catch. Keep Wilkes in the media spotlight.

Enough exposure and he will get nicely burnt and crispy.