IN THE HEYDAY OF GOP WINE & ROSES BRENT WILKES WAS A HIGH ROLLER. NOW HIS LIFE IS IN RUINS-- AND THE INDICTMENT, TRIAL, PRISON ARE STILL IN THE FUTURE

Brent Wilkes' wife Regina is divorcing him; his slimy businesses are closed; he owes hundreds of thousands in back taxes and is being sued by everyone he's ever dealt with; and he's about to be indicted for bribing U.S. congressmen and Bush Regime operatives. But he's still surrounded by pictures of himself with his pals Dick Cheney, Tom DeLay and other GOP politicians he has helped to enrich.

Some observers believe Wilkes' wife Regina is only divorcing him so that she can make a claim on some of the ill-gotten wealth he has accumulated at the expense of the American public. This way, when Bush pardons him, they'll still be in fat city. His company, "ADCS Inc. received more than $100 million in government contracts between 1995 and 2005, partly with the help of his longtime friend Cunningham, who sat on the House Appropriations Committee." Yes, "partly" with the help of Cunningham, who was on his payroll and is now rotting in prison, but also with the help of several other Republican congressional crooks, who he also bribed and who are not rotting in prison: Duncan Hunter (who thinks he's running for president), Jerry Lewis (still the Republicans' #1 man on the House Appropriations Committee, from which he enriched himself in the past with the help of men like Wilkes, Mitchell Wade and Bill Lowery), Virgil Goode, Jr., John Doolittle (click on the red ticket above), Katherine Harris, and several others.

In typical Republican-refuse-to-take-responsibility mode, Wilkes says he did nothing wrong. All this is just happening to him for no good reason. "I'm very proud of the work we did as a company. We had a phenomenal team that worked harder than the competition and outhustled everybody out there."

But federal officials have told the San Diego Union-Tribune that prosecutors are on the verge of indicting him. In the meantime, Wilkes is trying to prepare his headquarters for its new owners.

Built in 2003, when ADCS was riding high, Wilkes' headquarters is so opulent that workers referred to it as "the palace." The centerpiece is a pavilion large enough for 400-seat banquets or performances by Cirque du Soleil, which Wilkes hired for Regina's 50th birthday party.

Other features include a 100-seat theater, bar and karaoke room. Wilkes' office features a fireplace and billiard table. Wilkes used the building for political fundraising events, charity banquets and parties for SDSU alumni, among others.

Not unconnected to the cases, like Wilkes' and Jerry Lewis', the Bush Regime has moved forcefully to fire the U.S. Attorneys (all of whom are Republicans), like Carol Lam in San Diego, who are pursuing Republican politicians and the operatives who have been funding them. Today's Washington Post is reporting that this will lead to a showdown with Congress.

The Bush Regime has fired 7 of these Senate-confirmed prosecutors so far. Dianne Feinstein's got her dander up-- and she isn't one who normally makes any waves for the Bush Regime (which has made her very rich husband very much richer). "The U.S. attorneys' job is too important for there to be unnecessary disruptions, or worse, any appearance of undue influence." Along with the normally complacent Feinstein two Democratic firebrands, Patrick Leahy and John Conyers, are raising a ruckus and demanding answers to questions that no one in the Regime wants to discuss. Feinstein wants to know why Lam was forced out without cause-- and just as she is closing in on Jerry Lewis, Brent Wilkes and other major high level GOP malefactors. "We have people from the FBI indicating that Carol Lam has not only been a straight shooter but a very good prosecutor. Therefore, it is surprising to me to see that she would be, in effect, forced out, without cause. This would go for any other U.S. attorney among the seven who are on that list."

In response, Gonzales' crew at the Justice Department is starting to slander the prosecutors, some of whom have been considered the best in the nation. And, remember, all are Republicans appointed by Bush. Senate hearings, called by Leahy to examine the matter, will commence next week.