$300-a-night prostitutes for California's Rep Cunningham
In 2003, Wilkes got a $16.5 million contract through Cunningham,
prosecutors
say. In the same year, he purchased Super Bowl tickets and a vacation in
Hawaii for Cunningham where he provided the congressman with $300-a-night
prostitutes for two nights, prosecutors allege.
In 2004, Wilkes, using Michael and the firm owned by Kontogiannis, gave
Cunningham $525,000 to pay off part of a mortgage on the congressman's
Rancho Santa Fe estate, the prosecution alleges.
'Never bribed'
Among the potential witnesses are former Cunningham staffers, including
three men who served at different times as his chief of staff.
Kontogiannis,
who faces up to 10 years when he is sentenced in November, also may be
called to testify.
Wade, of the former Wa****ngton defense firm MZM, who provided Cunningham
with a cabin cruiser named the Duke-Stir to live on at a Wa****ngton
marina,
also may appear.
Wade has been cooperating with authorities, prosecutors say, since
pleading
guilty last year to giving Cunningham more than $1 million in bribes. He
faces up to 11 years in prison.
Michael and his attorneys have said little other than to declare his
innocence. Efforts to reach them Friday were unsuccessful.
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