Text 353, 84 rader
Skriven 2006-04-28 10:29:30 av BOB SAKOWSKI (1:123/140)
     Kommentar till en text av JOHN HULL
Ärende: More scandal
====================
Get your "Burn 'Em" stick ready John 'cause it looks like S-E-X has come
into the continuing saga of the Cunningham & Friends Corruption Scandal.

http://online.wsj.com/public/article/SB114610728002837324-FnHaEYAFT_b7QFGwPxnAIiEcHEI_20060527.html?mod=tff_main_tff_top


"Federal prosecutors are investigating whether two contractors implicated
in the bribery of former Rep. Randall "Duke" Cunningham supplied him with
prostitutes and free use of a limousine and hotel suites, pursuing evidence
that could broaden their long-running inquiry.

Besides scrutinizing the prostitution scheme for evidence that might
implicate contractor Brent Wilkes, investigators are focusing on whether
any other members of Congress, or their staffs, may also have used the same
free services, though it isn't clear whether investigators have turned up
anything to implicate others.

In recent weeks, Federal Bureau of Investigation agents have fanned out
across Washington, interviewing women from escort services, potential
witnesses and others who may have been involved in the arrangement. (...)

Mr. Wade in February pleaded guilty to giving bribes of more than $1
million to Mr. Cunningham, including cash, antiques and payment for yachts.
Mr. Wade, who hasn't been sentenced yet, is cooperating with prosecutors.
According to people with knowledge of the investigation, Mr. Wade told
investigators that Mr. Cunningham periodically phoned him to request a
prostitute, and that Mr. Wade then helped to arrange for one. A limousine
driver then picked up the prostitute as well as Mr. Cunningham, and drove
them to one of the hotel suites, originally at the Watergate Hotel, and
subsequently at the Westin Grand.

Mr. Wade told investigators that all the arrangements for these services
had been made by Mr. Wilkes and two employees of Mr. Wilkes's company,
according to people with knowledge of his debriefing. He said Mr. Wilkes
had rented the hotel suites and found the limousine driver, who had
"relationships" with several escort services. Mr. Wade told prosecutors
that sometimes Mr. Cunningham would contact him to request these services,
and he would pass on the request to Mr. Wilkes or his employees, who then
made the actual arrangement. Mr. Wade said that other times Mr. Cunningham
called Mr. Wilkes directly to make the requests."

And

http://www.harpers.org/sb-red-lights-on-capitol-hill.html

"I've learned from a well-connected source that those under intense
scrutiny by the FBI are current and former lawmakers on Defense and
Intelligence comittees—including one person who now holds a powerful
intelligence post. I've also been able to learn the name of the limousine
service that was used to ferry the guests and other attendees to the
parties: Shirlington Limousine and Transportation of Arlington, Virginia.
Wilkes, I've learned, even hired Shirlington as his personal limousine
service.

It gets even more interesting: the man who has been identified as the CEO
of Shirlington has a 62-page rap sheet (I recently obtained a copy) that
runs from at least 1979 through 1989 and lists charges of petit larceny,
robbery, receiving stolen goods, assault, and more. Curiously—or perhaps
not so curiously given the company's connections—Shirlington Limousine is
also a Department of Homeland Security contractor; according to the
Washington Post, last fall it won a $21.2 million contract for shuttle
services and transportation support. (I tried to contact Shirlington but
was unable to get past their answering service.)

As to the festivities themselves, I hear that party nights began early with
poker games and degenerated into what the source described as a "frat
party" scene—real bacchanals. Apparently photographs were taken, and
investigators are anxiously procuring copies."

"I've learned from a well-connected source that those under intense
scrutiny by the FBI are current and former lawmakers on Defense and
Intelligence comittees—including one person who now holds a powerful
intelligence post."

Oh my!!  I wonder who THAT could be John.

Perhaps the initials CIA & PG are a clue.

The Consumate Corruptables, the conservatibve wing of the Republican party.

Conservative republicans, bringing new meaning to corruption and
debauchery.
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