Tag Archives: Jerry Lewis

Los Angeles Area

CA-41: Jerry Lewis better hope orange is his color

It’s piling on time for Congressman Jerry Lewis (R-Redlands).  There are subpoenas flying in the multitude of investigations into several earmarks.  We’ve written about Lewis’ ethics problems in the past (here and here), but it seems now that the Feds might be closing in on there man.  The noose is tightening on ol’ Jerry.:

Riverside County and the Cal State Bernardino Foundation have been subpoenaed in the federal investigation into the ties between Rep. Jerry Lewis, R-Redlands, and a Washington, D.C., lobbyist, it was reported Saturday.
That’s in addition to subpoenas of San Bernardino County and Redlands, Calif., that were confirmed earlier this week. The subpoenas are asking for records of contacts between the recipients and Lewis and Copeland, Lowery, Jacquez, Denton, & White, which employs former Rep. Bill Lowery, R-Calif.
Lowery is a close friend of Lewis’ whose firm’s clients include a number of municipalities, businesses and agencies in or around Lewis’ inland Southern California district. Some aides to Lewis at the House Appropriations Committee, which he chairs, have also gone to work at the firm, which helps clients get federal dollars “earmarked” for projects.(AP 6/3/06)

Now, I understand that in the rush to earmark that there will be some deals that look questionable.  (Of course one way to completely get rid of these shady deals would be complete public financing of campaigns)  However, during the 12 years that the GOP has been in control of the House, the corruption and quid pro quo arrangements of the Representatives has been despicable.  But, don’t worry, Jerry Lewis welcomes you to look at his record.  But be careful, your eyes might burn…

“I encourage a thorough review of any project I have helped secure for my constituents,” the statement said. “Throughout my career, I have also made every effort to meet the highest ethical standards, and I am absolutely certain that any review of my work will confirm this.”

Arnold Schwarzenegger, Blog Roundup

California Blog Roundup, 6/2/06

1 Comment

Today’s California Blog Roundup is on the flip. I’m having a hard time keeping up: more people are writing as the election approaches. Teasers: Angelides, Westly, Schwarzenegger, Bowen, Paid-For Pombo, Francine Busby, Winograd v. Harman, Props 81 and 82, Jerry Lewis / CA-41, discussion of various reforms,immigration, and recent legislative actions.

Statewide Races

Paid-For Pombo / CA-11

Busby / CA-50

Winograd / Harman / CA-36

  • This Paul Rosenberg diary at MyDD re Marcy Winograd’s endorsement by another Democratic Club and the ensuing discussion are interesting. I’ll keep pressing Paul to crosspost his stuff.

  • The BradBlog interviews Marcy Winograd. Unsurprisingly, there’s a lot of stuff in there about election reform and voting machines, but also a lot of other topics, so don’t be afraid to go read it.

  • Alicia of Last Left Before Hooterville spent a night phone-banking for Marcy Winograd, and feels really good about it.

Other Electoral

Propositions

  • Tom Hilton of If I Ran the Zoo says yes to both Prop 81 and Prop 82.

  • Hannah-Beth Jackson at Speak Out CA runs through some of the groups opposing Prop 82. There are a startling number of pro-big-bidness groups involved. Why would they care? Prop 82 levies a tax on the personal income of very few people. Oh, wait. That’s right — those people are likely to be big-bidness executives. Funny that.

  • Beep takes the Next Ten state budget challenge and finds that she probably can’t support Prop 82, because she’d rather use the tax imposed for other things. Well, fair enough, but Beep, there is nothing else on offer today, nor is there likely to be in the foreseeable future. The anti-government groups who prevent any kind of sensible fiscal policy have seen to that.

Reform

Immigration

Legislative Action

Miscellany

San Diego

Wilkes in the news

1 Comment

Brent Wilkes, the Duke Cunningham bribing, prostitute poker providing defense contractor, is all over the news lately.  He appears in the latest issue of Newsweek.  Good job Brent!

There is nothing unusual or illegal about a defense contractor with an open checkbook for campaign fund-raisers and seats to fill on a corporate jet. But federal prosecutors want to find out more about how Wilkes tapped into what may be one of Washington’s sweetest post-9/11 honey pots—secret defense and intelligence contracts that are often awarded without competitive bids or oversight but with plenty of congressional meddling. Wilkes appears to be at the center of a Washington scandal that has the potential to shake Capitol Hill and the Pentagon.
***
According to published reports and congressional and law-enforcement sources who did not want to be identified discussing a sensitive investigation, the Feds are also reviewing Wilkes’s ties to other powerful House leaders. Former GOP majority leader Tom DeLay, Armed Services Committee chairman Duncan Hunter and Appropriations Committee chairman Jerry Lewis all reportedly had dealings with Wilkes. None has been accused of any wrongdoing; a spokesman for Lewis said the congressman had not seen Wilkes for 10 years. Hunter’s spokesman said his boss urged the Pentagon to ignore congressional pressure on contracting, and DeLay’s lawyer had no immediate comment. (Newsweek 6/5/06)

And nobody wants to play with poor Brent Wilkes anymore.  Nobody goes to his poker prostitute parties, nobody gets him $10million contracts.  And nobody even wants to admit knowing the poor guy:

His life is getting lonelier. He has been dropped by charities; his office building is for sale; his federal contracts are drying up. Once a ubiquitous figure in San Diego politics, Wilkes might as well have ceased to exist. Former San Diego congressman Brian Bilbray, a Republican who was in the House until 2001 before retiring to become a lobbyist, is running for Duke Cunningham’s vacated seat. Bilbray told NEWSWEEK, “I may have met Brent once or twice, but I really do not remember.” Bilbray did discover that Wilkes had donated $7,000 to his campaigns, but the candidate has given the money to charity. “I wouldn’t know Wilkes if I saw him in the street,” said Bilbray.

Even his fellow lobbyists, like Brian Bilbray, are throwing the guy under the bus.  What indignation the man has suffered.  All this for trying to pursue the American dream.  And what’s the problem anyway?  Everybody loves poker these days.  And prostitution is the oldest profession.  It’s got a long, cherished history.  Poor, poor Brent.  I think it’s jealousy.

Uncategorized

CA-41: Wilkes & Jerry Lewis? Together in the Pokie?

Jerry Lewis, (R-CA-41), is now being caught up in the Duke Cunningham.  The San Diego Union Tribune, which  moved up several notches in my mind with the Duke Cunningham reporting that it did, is now reporting on Jerry Lewis’ involvement with the scandal:

Rep. Jerry Lewis, chairman of the House Appropriations Committee, angrily denied yesterday that he or his staff had engaged in any misconduct in dealing with lobbyists or in “earmarking” federal money.

But a federal government source told The San Diego Union-Tribune that investigators were probing Lewis’ dealings with lobbyist and former Republican Rep. Bill Lowery of San Diego. The source said the investigation was a spin-off from the corruption probe of now-imprisoned former Rep. Randy “Duke” Cunningham. (San Diego U-T 5/12/06)

And just who does Mr. Lowery represent?  Brent Wilkes, a man you have read much about here.

According to government and defense industry sources, Lewis and Cunningham worked together to help Poway military contractor Brent Wilkes as he pursued contracts on Capitol Hill. Cunningham admitted taking bribes from Wilkes, who has been identified as co-conspirator No. 1 in Cunningham’s plea agreement.

On April 15, 1999, three months after Lewis was named chairman of the House defense appropriations subcommittee, he received $17,000 in campaign contributions from Wilkes and his associates. At the time, Wilkes was vying for a project to digitize military documents in the Panama Canal Zone, which the United States was about to return to Panama.

“If you can’t go to people on Capitol Hill, it’s very difficult to remain viable as a government contractor,” said one of Wilkes’ associates who contributed money to Lewis at the time. “You have to talk to people. And to talk to people, you have to give money.”

So, the press has got you dead to rights…what do you do Mr. Lewis?  Well, he goes after the Duke-stir.

In the Union-Tribune articles, Lewis denied any wrongdoing. But his denial yesterday was more forceful, with most of his fury directed at Cunningham, who admitted to taking more than $2.4 million in bribes in exchange for federal contracts.

“Mr. Cunningham . . . betrayed his oath of office, his constituents, and his fellow members of Congress,” Lewis said in his statement. “I have never been as angry toward anyone in my entire career.”

This case, along with the Cunningham case, if they really can be separated, are far more serious than anything Abramoff did in my mind.  Abramoff ran some games to steal money for himself.  Ok, he got Bob Ney to stick stuff in the Congressional Record that helped him shake down the Native American “monkeys” for a few extra bucks.  But the Cunningham/Lewis scandal is much more pernicious.  Lewis, as Chairman of the Appropriations Committee, used his authority to insert earmarks for projects that would go to Wilkes.

In other words, he used federal government contracts to repay Wilkes et al.  Federal Dollars…Taxpayer Dollars.  This one could be big.  John Boenher even called the allegations worrisome (I can’t find the quote, but I saw it on Countdown).  Is this finally the straw that breaks the camel’s back on GOP corruption?  Not likely, but perhaps the voters are getting sick of it.

Howie Klein at DWT also does quite a number on Lewis.

Uncategorized

Wilkes the “GOP’s ATM”

2 Comments

Newsweek finds out that Kyle “Dusty” Foggo and Brent Wilkes are friends.  Who knew?

It is a bit of a stretch. Most of the Wilkes’ bribes go to politicians, from guys like Randy Cunningham, up through more important Republicans such as Tom Delay, Jerry Lewis, Porter Goss, John Doolittle, and on right to the top of the party – George Bush. Yet, Foggo may be the thread that unravels Republican corruption all the way to the top.

But the agency’s problems may only get worse, and one reason is Foggo. Federal investigators are looking at the ties of the CIA’s “Ex Dir” to a congressional bribery scandal. Foggo was a high-school football teammate and college buddy of Brent Wilkes’s, a defense contractor who was identified as an unindicted co-conspirator when former San  Diego congressman and ex-Navy air ace Randy (Duke) Cunningham pleaded guilty. The CIA has acknowledged that its internal watchdog is investigating if Foggo helped steer any contracts to Wilkes. According to three sources who declined to be identified commenting on the details of a government probe, there are also indications that the Feds are interested in Foggo’s role in the wider Cunningham bribery scandal. Recent news reports have alleged that Wilkes (who has not been charged with any crime) sponsored poker parties at the Watergate and other expensive Washington hotels, and that he may have been involved in a scheme to provide prostitutes to the disgraced Cunningham.

More on the Repulican’s ATM follows.

Brent Wilkes is a bit more than “a defense contractor.”  Wilkes is a one man defense conglomerate, operating a dizzying array of companies that appear designed for a single purpose, to scam money from the defense and intelligence apparatus of the United States.

Wilkes apparently is big in the transportation industry as well.  At least in the transportation of Republican politicians.  Wilkes’ Group W Transportation operation appears to have been designed to allow Wilkes to ferry key Republican leaders around in the style to which his bribes and contribution had made them accustomed.

Yet Group W, owned by Poway defense contractor Brent Wilkes, has provided personal air transportation for some high-profile passengers — including House Majority Leader Tom DeLay and Rep. Randy “Duke” Cunningham, who has flown on the jet to such locations as Idaho for a hunting trip and Hawaii for a golf tournament.

Brent Wilkes is also a major financial contributor to Republican politicians. Aside from convicted felon Randy “Duke” Cunningham, Wilkes made substantial contributions to California Representatives John Doolittle (CA-4), Jerry Lewis (CA-41) and Duncan Hunter (CA-52).

But, wait there’s more Wilkes largess to politicians.  Wilkes it turns out is also a Bush/Cheney Pioneer – someone who raised at least $100,000 in contributions to the President’s 2004 campaign. In this, Wilkes is on a list of just 327 other dedicated fund raisers. In fact the first name on this list is Jack Abramoff. Distinguished company for Wilkes.

Wilkes is also a a key contributor to Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger. Schwarzenegger rewarded Wilkes with posting to two prestigious public boards. Postions that he asked Wilkes to give up when his involvement with Cunningham became public.

Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger, who received $77,400 from Wilkes and his wife, Regina Wilkes, has no such plans [to return the money], according to a spokesman.

Schwarzenegger, however, did ask Wilkes to resign from the Del Mar Fair Board and the State Race Track Leasing Commission the day after Cunningham pleaded guilty.

Schwarzenegger appointed Wilkes to both volunteer positions, continuing a tradition in which governors appoint contributors to such prestigious posts.

Cunningham was the most obvious and illegal of Wilkes bribery enterprises. In may turn out that Foggo will be as egregious and illegal a case as was Cunningham’s, but it is important to remember that Wilkes was what The Left Coaster called “An ATM for the GOP.” His largess was directed at anyone who could help him continue to loot the U.S Government and steal the money of American taxpayers.

Uncategorized

Doolittle’s Rat PAC

Representative John Doolittle (CA-4) is, by all reports, a devote Mormon. He doesn’t drink. He doesn’t smoke. And, he is vehemently anti-gambling. Except, apparently, when being pro-gambling helps out his friend Jack Abramoff’s clients.

Why would a straight-laced guy like Doolittle hold a Republican Party fund raiser in Las Vegas? Why do people rob banks? That’s where the money is says Doolittle in the Sacramento Bee.

According to Doolittle, Las Vegas “is a place that our target audience, namely these $5,000 donors, would like to go.”

More from the Strip follows.

The Bee focuses on a major Doolittle fund raising event held at the exclusive and expensive Venetian Resort Hotel Casino on the Las Vegas Strip. The 2005 event was designed to haul in big bucks for Doolittle and the Republicans.

Behind the need for fundraisers such as Doolittle’s is the increased demand for money to fuel political campaigns. As a member of the House leadership, Doolittle is required to raise $250,000 for House Republicans each year.

When asked about that, Doolittle said he had just been told he needed to raise an additional $100,000 for an upcoming House Republican dinner.

So, in essence Doolittle was sent out by his party’s leadership to raise money so that the crew in Washington could have a nice meal.
We don’t know what kind of deals had to be struck to insure that congressional Republicans were able to eat filet mignon instead of hamburger, but we do know that Doolittle’s event featured a stellar cast of co-conspirators and potential government witnesses.

…the biggest draw of all for the Doolittle event – then-House Majority Leader Tom DeLay, R-Texas.

DeLay, now facing a trial in Texas for campaign finance irregularities, knew them all. Under pressure from House Republicans worried about the growing Abramoff scandal, DeLay permanently surrendered his commanding leadership job in December.

Former DeLay staffers who started the now-infamous Alexander Strategy Group lobbying firm were there with DeLay.

The firm, which closed its doors last month as a result of the scandals, employed DeLay’s wife. Among its clients were those connected both to Abramoff and to defense contractors whose cash payments to Cunningham brought down the Vietnam War hero.

DeLay flew into Las Vegas on the private corporate jet of Group W, one of the companies owned by Brent Wilkes. Doolittle’s PAC paid $358.50 for DeLay’s privileged seat.

Doolittle pays the standard commercial airfare and DeLay rides out to Vegas on Brent Wilkes’ private jet. Just business as usual for Doolittle. But, not only did Wilkes provide DeLay with a $20,000 private jet ride, Wilkes also had some sugar for his pal Doolittle.

Wilkes also attended Doolittle’s event, giving Doolittle $10,000 in personal and PAC checks, almost certainly unaware that his businesses would be raided about two months later as federal agents built their bribery case against Cunningham.

Also attending was Ed Buckham, DeLay’s former chief of staff and a founder of the Alexander Strategy Group. Buckham was Wilkes’ lobbyist.

Doolittle said it may have been Buckham who first introduced him to Wilkes, setting up a relationship that the congressman says he still cannot believe was tainted by corruption.

Karl Gallant, another Alexander Strategy Group lobbyist, was there. He also ran DeLay’s political action committee, Americans for a Republican Majority.

Not since the days of Sinatra has Vegas seen a “rat pack” to equal this crowd. Although, now days the “pack” has been replaced by “PAC”. And speaking of PACs, Julie Doolittle was in attendance with her husband.

By the time of the fundraiser – Doolittle’s second at the Las Vegas complex – his wife, Julie, already had been subpoenaed by the Justice Department for business records related to work she had done for an Abramoff interest, the Capital Athletic Foundation.

John Doolittle continues to insist that he has done nothing wrong. Yet, it is hard to understand how a man who claims to have such a strong moral compass could surround himself with so much corruption and remain untainted by it.

Doolittle’s personal morality may not have been compromised by his association with Abramoff, Wilkes, DeLay and their retainers, but his public morality certainly seems to have been sold to the highest bidder.