TWO OF CUNNINGHAM'S BRIBERS, WILKES AND WADE, EXPERIENCE SOME DISCOMFITURE

Wade & Goode-- If there's a briber isn't there also a bribee?

Yesterday, in two somewhat-- albeit distantly-- related matters, Brent Wilkes and Mitchell Wade, two sleazy, crooked Republican contractors, went through a tough day. Wilkes, who is being tried in San Diego for bribing Cunningham, saw his case go to the jury. "Prosecutor Jason Forge said Wilkes' claims of innocence were preposterous and disputed that there were legitimate explanations for gifts and money given to Cunningham."

Even though the prosecutor was fairly inept when Wilkes took the stand, there is such a preponderance of evidence against him that it is still likely he will be found guilty. Interestingly, at one point he claimed-- something I have said for 2 years-- that he was getting more out of Jerry Lewis (R-CA), a far bigger crook than Cunningham, and ten times as corrupt-- than he was out of the Dukester.

Closing arguments began at 2:45 p.m. Prosecutor Sanjay Bhandari gave a very succinct, calm and, I thought, effective closing argument. He said the case boiled down to a question of whether Wilkes gave Cunningham things of value for influence and then tried to hide it. Wilkes friendship with Cunningham, Bhandari said, was a cultivated one, motivated by an attempt to get something back from the congressman. Every time Wilkes wanted something from Cunningham, a bribe changed hands. Wilkes’ defense was a cover story concocted long ago. For him to be telling the truth, a long list of people have to be lying.

A very animated Mark Geragos told jurors that the only lies they have heard were ones the government had been telling them, based on the testimony of admitted felons like Mitch Wade.

Ah, yes... Mitch Wade. He had a bad day too. Yesterday, as the result of a complaint filed by Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington, the Federal Election Commission announced the second largest fine in FEC history -- $1,000,000-- has been imposed against Wade and his company MZM for illegally funnelling campaign contributions/bribes to crooked Republicans Virgil Goode (VA) and Katherine Harris (FL).