Answering charges of conspiracy, money laundering, defrauding the public of the honest services of a public official, and in Wilkes’ case, bribing a public official, both Brent Wilkes and Kyle “Dusty” Foggo entered pleas of not guilty today.

Both men were free on bond ($2 million for Wilkes, $200,000 for Foggo), and Wilkes’ attorney said

that after 18 months of an “unrelenting campaign of leaks,” that he and his client were looking forward to answering formal charges.

“We do welcome the opportunity now to be in the courtroom,” he said.

Wilkes is up against gifts to Duke Cunningham as well as Foggo and, one would assume, more folks as time goes on.  “The gifts included cash, vacations, computers, meals, tickets to a Super Bowl game and prostitutes” to Cunningham and “gifts, expensive dinners and trips” and the promise of a job to Foggo.

Both men face up to 20 years in prison.  The government is looking for more than $12 million in restitution.

With US Attorney Carol Lam leaving her post tomorrow, still more great news from an unfortunately short term rooting out white collar crime and political corruption.  Here’s hoping her legacy at the US Attorney’s office will carry on after her departure.

Update: Or at least more information.  From a complimentary article today:

Cunningham admitted accepting more than $2.4 million in bribes from defense contractors Brent Wilkes, the Poway businessman indicted yesterday, and Mitchell Wade.

When he pleaded guilty Nov. 28, 2005, Cunningham pledged to work with investigators looking into other aspects of the case, an investigation that led to this week’s court action.