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GOT WILKES?

The Duke Cunningham scandal continues to reverberate across the country, as the federal investigation into congressional bribery has expanded to include additional members of Congress and members of the nation's intelligence services, including the top officials at the CIA.

Federal investigators are also now examining whether Wilkes used prostitutes to bribe or coerce members of Congress into giving him federal contracts.

With each new revelation sending the story a different direction, it gets tough to keep track of it all. Good news! We'll track the story as it unfolds, in addition to doing some reporting of our own, and keep you updated on the Beltway bribery ring. Sign up for updates

Are you a politician who has money from Brent Wilkes in your campaign warchest? They say that money is the mothers milk of politics, but Brent Wilkes has taken corruption and graft to a new low. TheRestofUs.org has called on all politicians who have received money from Wilkes to give back any contributions from him, his employees and business partners, and their family members.

Most (but not all) politicians have now rushed to return the contributions from sleazy lobbyist Jack Abramoff and his clients. But contributions from Brent Wilkes and his associates are even more troubling.

Consider:

Buying a House fit for a Duke
Ex-congressman Duke Cunningham has pleaded guilty to accepting more than $2.4 million in bribes. In his plea, Duke names Brent Wilkes as a co-conspirator who paid of a $520,000 mortgage on a new house plus gave Cunningham two checks for $100,000 each. Wilkes has yet to be indicted for bribery, but Cunningham is now cooperating with investigators and reportedly wore a wire during his final days in office. In return for the bribes, Cunningham earmarked contracts for companies owned by Wilkes in defense appropriations bills.

Doolittle's Earmarks
Congressman John Doolittle has admitted to earmarking more than $37 million in federal contracts for Perfect Wave, a company owned by Wilkes. Doolittle has received more than $85,000 in contributions from Wilkes and his associates.

Skirting Federal Campaign Finance Laws
Brent Wilkes served as a Pioneer for George W. Bush's 2000 presidential campaign, bundling more than $100,000 in contributions for the president. The pattern of giving from Wilke's family, friends, and employees suggests that Wilkes may have engaged in illegal money laundering -- giving a contribution in the name of another person -- in order to reach his Pioneer status.

Further, two of Wilke's associates, Max Gelwix, the president of Perfect Wave, and William Bain Adams an investor in Perfect Wave, appear to have exceeded the federal limit of $25,000 on contributions to all federal candidates and PACs. (Congress has since lifted this limit to better accommodate these fat cat donors.)

Wilkes and company's links to Tom DeLay's TRMPAC
Texas prosecutor Ronnie Earl has subpoenaed financial records from Perfect Wave in relation to contributions it made to Tom DeLay's Texas for a Republican Majority PAC. DeLay has been indicted for using TRMPAC to launder corporate contributions to influence Texas legislative races.

Gambling with California's Reputation
Brent Wilkes and his family and employees contributed more than $87,500 to California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger's campaigns. Schwarzenegger appointed Wilkes to a race track board. After Duke Cunningham's plea, Schwarzenegger asked Wilkes to step down from the board, but he has yet to return the contributions.

Wilkes appears to have coordinated campaign contributions with the following associates of Perfect Wave (defense contractor), ADCS (defense contractor), Group W (lobbying and transportation firm), and MZM (defense contractor)::

Regina Wilkes, Jeffrey Wilkes, Kristine Wilkes, Larry Wilkes, Robert Wilkes (family)
William Bain Adams and Pamela Adams (PerfectWave investor and wife)
Max and Ellen Gelwix (Perfect Wave President and wife)
Joel and Eddy Combs (ADCS Executive and wife)
Mitch Wade (MZM founder, alleged coconspirator in bribing Cunningham)
Richard Bliss (attorney for Perfect Wave)
Arnold Borromeo (ADCS exec, treasurer ADCS PAC)
Carlos and Summer Campos (ADCS exec and wife)
Michael Mack
Edith Macgruder (Wilkes employee)
Paul Smithers (ADCS attorney)
Tony and Lisa Rudy (Alexander Strategies Group lobbyist and former DeLay staffer and wife)
Edwin Buckham (Alexander Strategies Group)
Michael Williams (Wilkes employee)
Mark Turok (Group W)
Melissa Dollaghan (director of government affairs for Group W, wife to California Assemblyman George Plescia)

[Ed. Note: Wayne Zandbergen had been incorrectly listed here as an employee of Group W, Wilkes' firm. Mr. Zandbergen runs a different Group W company, and is not associated with Wilkes.]

Congratulations to Representatives Jerry Lewis, Duncan Hunter, Katherine Harris and others who've already given back this tainted money.

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