Prostitutes testify in trial of Duke's former associate
By: TERI FIGUEROA - Staff Writer
Wilkes allegedly lined up trip to Hawaiian resort | ∞
SAN DIEGO -- A trial about power, bribery and a dirty politician took another tawdry turn Wednesday, as a hooker from Hawaii testified that Poway businessman Brent Wilkes argued with former North County Congressman Randy "Duke" Cunningham over who would get the prettier of two prostitutes.
Wilkes won.
Soon after that, his government contracts dried up.
The men's dispute over the two prostitutes -- while chomping on cigars and soaking with the naked women in a private Jacuzzi in a Hawaiian resort -- happened at a crucial time.
One of Wilkes' competitors was out-bribing Wilkes to line Cunningham's pockets in 2003, according to testimony Wednesday, so Wilkes raised the stakes. Wilkes and the congressman flew to Hawaii, where Wilkes' nephew lined up two $300-an-hour hookers, the nephew told the jury Wednesday.
But Wilkes got the prettier one. And Cunningham wasn't happy.
"There was a bit of a disagreement between the two of them," one of the prostitutes, Tammy McFadden, testified Wednesday.
McFadden said she ended up with Wilkes that August night in 2003.
"Did the other client (Cunningham) feel he got the short end of the straw?" Assistant U.S. Attorney Phil Halpern asked.
"Yes," McFadden replied. "And he was vocal about it."
The two escorts were the last witnesses for the prosecution in their case against Wilkes, who is accused of plying Cunningham with $700,000 in cash and gifts in exchange for more than $80 million in government contracts between 1997 and 2004.
Wilkes, a 53-year-old San Diego County native, has pleaded not guilty to 14 charges, including bribery, fraud, money laundering and committing unlawful monetary transactions. He faces up to 20 years if convicted.
Wilkes' attorney, Mark Geragos, contends that the expensive dinners and private jet trips to which Wilkes treated Cunningham are simply the way Washington works.
The government rested its case late Wednesday -- but without calling Cunningham to the stand. Geragos declined to say whether he plans to call the now-jailed former politician to testify for the defense, which begins its case this morning.
The congressman became the center of a tug of war between Wilkes and Mitchell Wade, according to testimony.
Mitchell Wade once worked as a consultant for Wilkes.
'Upping the ante'
But in 2001, Wade -- while still working for Wilkes -- went behind Wilkes' back. He started his own defense contracting firm, and began bribing Cunningham to win the same types of defense contracts Wilkes' company handled, according to testimony thus far in the seven-day trial.
By 2003, Wade was winning the game, slipping bigger bribes to the North County politician, Wilkes' nephew, Joel Combs, told the jury Wednesday.
Seeing contracts going to Wade made Wilkes furious, Combs testified.
"Brent said Mitchell was 'upping the ante,' " said Combs, who worked for his uncle for about a decade -- and whom he says helped grease Cunningham on Wilkes' behalf.
Telling his tale under a grant of immunity, Combs was a star witness for the government. He spent most of Wednesday on the stand.
Combs said his uncle had treated Cunningham to concerts, luxury box seats for the Super Bowl, resort getaways and golf vacations. The fine meals he bought for the politician over the course of four years totaled more than $150,000, Combs said.
And in return, Cunningham earmarked taxpayer funds for contracts to steer to Wilkes' Poway-based ADCS, which handled document scanning for the government.
The politician was also "our problem-solver," Combs said. Cunningham bullied government employees who questioned Wilkes' work or invoices, according to previous testimony.
With Wade in the picture, Wilkes' business soured.
When Wilkes figured out that Wade had bought expensive antique furniture for the congressman, Wilkes raised the stakes, Combs said.
Wilkes and Combs took Cunningham for a lavish vacation at a Hawaiian resort, Combs said. They stayed in a $6,000-a-night villa with a private pool and Jacuzzi on the lanai.
They went diving in warm waters among coral reefs. They played poker. They partied with hookers. All of it paid for by Wilkes, Combs said.
But a few months later, the stakes got higher, it appears. Wade bought the congressman's Del Mar home -- for $700,000 more than it was worth.
Cunningham steered government contracts worth millions in taxpayer funds to Wade. Wilkes' company was shut out.
Cunningham is behind bars now, serving eight years and four months for admitting he took $2.4 million in bribes in exchange for steering government contracts.
Wade, too, has pleaded guilty to bribing Cunningham, although he has not been sentenced. Wilkes is Wade's one-time boss, and he introduced Wade to Cunningham.
Wade testified last week that he learned the bribery game from Wilkes.
Combs admitted he lied to the FBI when federal agents raided his Washington D.C.-area office. Halpern asked Combs whom he thought his lies would protect.
"Brent. And myself," Combs answered with a hard frown, his voice choking as he fought tears.
He and his uncle did not look toward each other during his nearly daylong testimony.
While cross-examining Combs, Geragos depicted Combs as a ne'er-do-well nephew, a screw-up who relied on his uncle for a job.
Prostitutes in the tub
And at the end of the day, after Combs left the stand, the decorum of the federal courtroom gave way a bit to nervous laughter as McFadden and the other prostitute, Donna Rozetta, testified about their encounters with Wilkes and Cunningham.
Rozetta, wearing low-rise jeans, a T-shirt and a cropped black sweatshirt, told the jury that she and McFadden were driven to the hotel and brought to the suite to meet their two clients.
"They asked us if we wanted to get naked and get into the Jacuzzi," Rozetta said.
"What did you do," prosecutor Halpern asked.
"We got naked and got in the Jacuzzi," Rozetta replied.
She said she ended up with the older of the two men, one with "heavy jowls and a puffy face," and that he fed her grapes as they soaked in the hot tub.
She identified Cunningham in a photo lineup shown to the jury. Cunningham's was the second of six pictures.
"I had sex with No. 2," Rozetta said.
McFadden, with long wavy blond hair and dressed in a black pants suit, described Cunningham as "the boisterous one" and "overbearing."
McFadden said she returned to the suite the next night, but this time she came with a different woman.
-- Contact staff writer Teri Figueroa at (760) 631-6624 or tfigueroa@nctimes.com.
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Wonderful story. wrote on Oct 18, 2007 4:04 AM:Our tax dollars hard at work.
O'side Res wrote on Oct 18, 2007 7:43 AM:Duke has all those great memories in jail.
This case sickens me... wrote on Oct 18, 2007 7:57 AM:We are supposed to be living in the land of the free. Instead we are living in the land of the corrupt. When I was growing up, we were taught that the US had the better government system than any other country in the world and we were told about all the great men who had been part of the system. Lincoln, Washington, Jefferson. What politician have we seen in the last 50 years whom could be described in the same sentence as any of those people. NONE, is my answer. We should be ashamed of the hacks that we seem to elect over and over again each election. How many times did we re-elect the "Duke"? At least a dozen. Yet, if you read the prostitute's testimony you will see that he was a boisterous, over-bearing bag of wind who thought his ...did not stink. IF you read about the article on this site yesterday, you would have read that the defense in this case said that their defense angle was that what the "Duke" was doing was "business as usual" in Washington. American citizens should be shocked that this could even be said, no less be the defense for a major corruption case. Yet, there were only three or four comments about the article (but more than 40 comments about the Chargers) all day. This is one of the most important court cases of our time and yet the American population's eyes have glazed over and no one is seeing or hearing what has been going on for the past forty or fifty years. This is not about some story over on another continent or even another state within the USA. This has been going on in our own back yard for decades and yet no one is up in arms or seems the least bit outraged. It is as if the American people have been anesthetized completely over the whole issue. People should be out in the streets protesting the self-serving government corruption and instead we had naked people hanging from hooks protesting people killing fish by fishing. What a craZy ScrEwed uP wOrld we live in.
Bolter wrote on Oct 18, 2007 8:19 AM:So much for ethics, family values, and the like. Congress persons should have no more than 2 terms and out, same with Senators. As voters we need to keep the political gene pool fresh and more citizen-like everyday. Seems there is a corellation between long term pols and long prison terms!
No more parties wrote on Oct 18, 2007 8:45 AM:This was your hero N. County Repubs. How many partisan suckers voted to keep this guy in orafice for several terms? And you settled for Bilbray as a substitute? Amazing! PT Barnum had it right.
John wrote on Oct 18, 2007 8:46 AM:America - Home of the fleeced and depraved.
time to vote Libertarian... wrote on Oct 18, 2007 9:51 AM:If you disgruntled Republicans are looking for an alternative for your precious votes, why do not not look at the Libertarian party? They believe in smaller government, less regulations and taxes and they want the government to stay out of our lives. They are conservative fiscally yet more moderate or liberal when it comes to private and social issues. It is a good alternative to the new tax and spend Republican party. They regularly get 5-7 percent of the vote nationwide and they actually have people elected in congress and in many state offices across the country. One of the Republican candidates actually ran for President a few years ago, Ron Paul. (I voted for him then) I know it is an idealistic party but our country was idealistic in it's founding moments and we need to return to those values before we can fix what is wrong with this country. The name of the party, Libertarians is misleading because Libertarians ARE NOT liberals. Time for you Republicans who can no longer support your corrupted party to start looking at viable alternatives. I say it is time for a third party to shake up the system and then we will have some real change. Otherwise, it is going to be business as usual. Personally I am tired for feeling like voting NONE OF THE ABOVE every time I go to the ballot box.
Mike wrote on Oct 18, 2007 9:53 AM:"Hunter / Cunningham '08" bunper stickers still available. Google "Hunter Cunningham ADCS".
mike wrote on Oct 18, 2007 12:02 PM:I know this stuff goes on but it really pisses me off. So don't regale me with the dukes war exploits , it doesn't matter anymore. Hey Congressman Markey has left Congress you know he is from Massachusetts. he left with a 4.8 mil war chest, that is disgusting too. I say if you are out so is the war chest. It is all so gross the whole thing, plus the people involved in politics are from nothing and do nothing.Term limits and screw this seniority system and lets get some young people in charge. YOUNG! Just look at how old the congress is and senate, go home, with your war chests.
Randy wrote on Oct 18, 2007 12:53 PM:To gain the vote of the conservative right, a candidate has only to espouse the right views on abortion, guns, etc. So long as the candidate's personal life remains unexposed, it doesn't matter how the candidate behaves in private!
Face it. wrote on Oct 18, 2007 2:04 PM:The Duke was one of the most corrupt politicians in history and dumb to boot. Isn't it interesting that he was elected time after time from CA-50? The way I read that history is that the people who put him in Congress were/are as stupid as his is.
Concerned-1 wrote on Oct 18, 2007 2:06 PM:Sickens at 7:57 is right on point. And yes Duke was a Republican, but I don't beleive the Democrats are any better. As to why do we let this happen; well we have unqualified people voting. I think there should be a test voters would have to pass before voting. It seems today people will believe whatever they see on TV ads especially the lies and twisted facts. Case in point: the California Teachers Association in the last election. What a bunch of crap!
What are we all doing? wrote on Oct 18, 2007 2:12 PM:This really has nothing to do with Republican/Conservatives....it's only about a man with no ethics or morals. Before we all cast stones on the rest of the Conservatives...let's not forget our "Commander in Chief" a few years back who was doing an Intern in the White House. Immoral and Unethical run just as deep in both parties.
What is right. wrote on Oct 18, 2007 2:44 PM:Not all conservatives are corrupt. However, they have a different view of the world which includes a religious moral agenda and lack of compassion for others not so inclined. It costs money for compassion, you see.
^amen^ wrote on Oct 18, 2007 2:50 PM:most politicians are corrupt, they are the puppets of the special interests/business organizations that put them there.
But what would the Democrats say? wrote on Oct 18, 2007 2:52 PM:The argument was repeated ad nauseaum during the Clinton impeachment proceedings. The argument the Democrats kept telling us was that an elected leader should not be judged by what he does in his private life. This argument was nonsense then and it is nonsense now. Our country is in desperate need of honorable men and women to represent us. The political landscape is extremely bleak at the present time. Who can we elect as our next president? We citizens should do everything in our power to remove from office those corrupt, self serving politicians that seem to be the norm in Washington. And yes, what our elected leaders do in private matters.
Duke's End (Genesis Song) wrote on Oct 18, 2007 2:57 PM:I know Duke....He sent my a wedding present... It is hard to comprehend how he could have turned so far to the "dark side." If there was one man in Congress who I would have assumed would have strangled anyone who might offer him a bribe, it was Cunningham. Obviously he is paying a very steep price for his very step decent into the pit..... for the rest of his life he will have to live in shame and regret. In some ways it is not punishment enough for betraying his country, but for someone who was so well thought of by so many, the way most of us feel know would be tough to live with.
Well, not really. wrote on Oct 18, 2007 3:05 PM:Seems to me that there needs to be a healthy distance from the public side of politicians. They are humans and deserve a private life. More often than not the left and right wants to make a moral judgement based on news stories. I don't think so. We need to grow up as a country before it's too late.
they're all the same wrote on Oct 18, 2007 3:05 PM:Why is it that so many Americans view politicians as a bunch of crooks? Perhaps because there is truth to it. Whether it be a Republican like Duke who took bribes and hookers, or that Democrat from the South who stashed cash in his freezer. Think about this...is there a politician out there you would want working at your company?
I actually feel sorry. wrote on Oct 18, 2007 3:07 PM:For those who new the Duke. You were suckered.
Cal wrote on Oct 18, 2007 3:10 PM:Partisanship and conservative faith has everything to do with this. It is blind party loyalty that allowed Duke to be elected time and again. Too many voters in North County make their decisions based on whether there is an R after the candidates name - and not on their capacity or desire to serve their constituents. Will they change and start scrutinizing their own? Nah!
Karl wrote on Oct 18, 2007 5:23 PM:Randy, I disagree with your view of the conservative right which I might be one of in your view. I am not a practicing Christian but believe in a "higher being". My biggest belief is the "Golden Rule" which I live my life daily by. I am totally against abortion as I view it as murder. I am very much for gun control. I support the bearing of arms which includes hunting weapons (shotguns, rifles with scopes) but adamently opposed handguns and assualt rifles. These weapons I feel are only around to kill humans and serve no other purpose. As for your comment "So long as the candidate's personal life remains unexposed, it doesn't matter how the candidate behaves in private!" Are you so naive as to believe that only conservatives vote in this pattern? How about the Liberal that was caught with 100k in his freezer? Was he a Conservative? Lose your fear of conservatives, most of us have the better good of our neighbors in mind when we vote as you Liberals do. You need to vent on the extremists on both sides.
Karl wrote on Oct 18, 2007 5:31 PM:Face it, are you telling me that I am "are as stupid as his is"? I have been fooled by many candidates. All I have to rely on when I vote is their voting record. Is your voting record perfect? Let me ask you this, do you research judges when you vote? Do you research all the "x's" you put in the box? I do and I do the best I can with the information I can gleen. Have you ever checked a box not knowing the candidate or the proposition? My bet is yes.
Karl wrote on Oct 18, 2007 5:39 PM:" Not all conservatives are corrupt. However, they have a different view of the world which includes a religious moral agenda and lack of compassion for others not so inclined. It costs money for compassion, you see. " Huh? I consider myself a conservative and am very offended by your blog. Are you telling me that "I have a different view of the world which includes a religious moral agenda and lack of compassion for others not so inclined. It costs money for compassion, you see." Your comments show intolerance for oppsing views and border on bigotry.
Karl wrote on Oct 18, 2007 5:41 PM:"But what would the Democrats say" Very simply put, right on.
former constituent wrote on Oct 18, 2007 6:42 PM:Not all Republicans are corrupt, nor are all Democrats. What galls me is that when Cunningham retired from the Navy he thought that, although he wasn't even a registered voter at the time, he was qualified to be a Congressman. What galls me even MORE is that so many others in North County agreed with him, based simply upon the fact that he was running as a Republican. To add insult to injury, that gross blowhard got elected; and even though there are numerous examples of his boorish behavior in public (even before we knew everything we know now about what he was doing with these "defense contractors") he was automatically re-elected, over and over and over again. I never supported him, never voted for him, and was ashamed to be in his Congressional District. (He wasn't representing me; he was representing himself.) Upon reading the coverage of this trial in the NCT and in the Union, I am even more outraged. And Cunningham is only doing 8 years?! He and all those convicted of bribing him should never get out of jail.
Monkey See, Monkey Do! wrote on Oct 18, 2007 7:03 PM:Are you really surprised at his behavior? This activity is still going on, why do you thing what’s his face stuffed all that money in his freezer? Cunningham learned the tricks of the trade from someone? I hope Darrel Issa doesn’t disappoint us, but Monkey See Monkey Do…
Goldfinger wrote on Oct 18, 2007 7:50 PM:Karl - the "Golden Rule" is... He who has the gold rules. That's why we have guys like Issa in power now. He has an "R" behind his name and a dollar sign in front of it.
Neighbor wrote on Oct 18, 2007 8:14 PM:I would rather have the Commander in Chief doing an intern than a Commander in Chief who is killing thousands of innocent people in Iraq because of a big fat lie that he had created!
Richard wrote on Oct 18, 2007 10:38 PM:No one reading this report should be surprised. You can substitute every Senator and Congressman's name for Cunningham's and be correct. They are all corrupt and on the take. If you have any doubts just watch their voting record. They vote to line their pockets not in the best interest of every AMERICAN CITIZEN.
saile wrote on Oct 20, 2007 2:38 AM:So now you all know how Washington works. If we accept the premise that Duke is stupid and the fact that he got caught at it, then we could surmise that the smart ones never do (get caught).
fairmont wrote on Jun 4, 2008 12:22 AM:this is sick she worked at the hotel with us
MadMen Club wrote on Sep 17, 2008 7:35 PM:I totally agree with U - she is someone I know personally and I am deeply angered by her actions! :(
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