Details Leaking re: Cunningham Scandal Investigation
Preliminary details are leaking out concerning the “Duke” Cunningham corruption investigation; his resignation from Congress and plea of guilty in November 2005 were based on his activities as a member of the Congressional Defense Appropriations subcommittee, where he inserted “earmark” provisions for funds into various legislative bills on behalf of the people who paid him. A five-page summary of the interim internal report was released this week by that committee’s top Democratic Party lawmaker, and reported in the Los Angeles Times:
“Over a five-year period, the report said, Cunningham inserted language into spending bills adopted by the intelligence panel that provided approximately $70 million to $80 million for those companies. The committee oversees about $40 billion in annual spending on the nation’s spy agencies. Because budget details are classified, the public has virtually no ability to scrutinize individual contracts… Most of the money that Cunningham earmarked went to companies operated by Poway businessman Brent R. Wilkes and Wilkes’ former associate, Mitchell Wade of Washington. Wilkes remains under investigation, and Wade pleaded guilty in February to bribing Cunningham and offering illegal inducements to Pentagon officials… The investigation found no evidence of criminal activity by other lawmakers or committee aides, according to the report. But it describes a permissive environment…”
