The name of San Diego defense contractor Brent Wilkes has surfaced in several ethics investigations for connections including:
• Wilkes contributed at least $60,000 to U.S. Rep. Jerry Lewis, R-Calif., according to campaign finance records. Lewis, who chairs the powerful Appropriations Committee, is under investigation by federal prosecutors for links to former U.S. Rep. Bill Lowery, a lobbyist and former San Diego congressman. Lowery's lobbying firm was hired by Wilkes to push projects to Lewis and others in Congress.
• Wilkes was subpoenaed in the money-laundering case against former House Majority Leader Tom DeLay, R-Texas. Prosecutors want to hear from Wilkes about a contribution to a DeLay fundraising committee at the center of the investigation that led to indictments that pushed the GOP leader from office. Wilkes' company also hired a lobbying firm that employed DeLay's wife.
• Wilkes and his associates gave about $46,000 in campaign contributions to U.S. Rep. John Doolittle, R-Calif., a member of the Appropriations Committee, campaign finance records show. Doolittle has acknowledged he approved millions in contracts for Wilkes' companies but denies wrongdoing. Doolittle's name has surfaced in the investigation of lobbyist Jack Abramoff.
• Wilkes is a childhood friend of Kyle “Dusty” Foggo, the former No. 3 official at the CIA. FBI officials have been investigating whether Wilkes provided prostitutes for poker parties in which Foggo participated. Foggo left his job after the disclosures.
Follow the money and find every last one involved in crimes.
I dont care what party they belong too.
Only ONE consideration should go into defense contracts. What is BEST for our heroes.
wasn't duke cunningham the boss in the that John Lovitz cartoon "The Critic"?
My memory is fuzzy but didn't Lowery have essentially what became Duke's congressional district?