Bush Pioneer Implicated In Cunningham Bribery

by Steve

A textbook case of burying a lead in a story:

The two defense contractors who allegedly made many of the illicit payments to convicted Rep. Randy "Duke" Cunningham (R-Calif.) worked together for several years as relatively small players in the Pentagon's multibillion-dollar procurement system.

It was clear from facts in the criminal charges to which Cunningham pleaded guilty on Monday in San Diego that Mitchell J. Wade, president of Washington-based MZM Inc., is "Coconspirator No. 2." Yesterday, a lawyer for Brent Wilkes, head of San Diego area defense contractor ADCS Inc., said Wilkes is "Coconspirator No. 1" in the charging documents.

During a trip to Texas yesterday, President Bush called the bribes "outrageous" and said that Cunningham "is going to realize that he has broken the law and is going to pay a serious price, which he should."

It’s good to see what Bush thinks about poor Duke: out of sight, out of mind. But what does W think about this?

Wilkes and his wife, Regina, contributed nearly $140,000 to lawmakers and PACs between 2001 and 2004, according to data published by the nonpartisan Center for Responsive Politics. Wilkes was also a "Pioneer" in Bush's 2004 reelection campaign, a designation indicating he raised at least $100,000.

Aside from being a Bush Pioneer in 2004, Wilkes is an ATM for the GOP, as is his wife Regina.

So what does Bush think about one of his Pioneers being named in a bribery conviction against a GOP congressman?