Defense Contractor Subpoenaed in DeLay
Case
Yahoo News/AP
By SUZANNE GAMBOA, Associated Press Writer
December 13, 2005
WASHINGTON - A Texas prosecutor has issued subpoenas for bank records and
other information of a defense contractor involved in the bribery case of a
California congressman as part of the investigation of former House Majority
Leader.
District Attorney Ronnie Earle issued subpoenas late Monday afternoon for
California businessmen Brent Wilkes and Max Gelwix, records of Perfect Wave
Technologies LLC, Wilkes Corp. and ADCS Inc. in connection with a contribution
to a fundraising committee at the center of the investigation that led to
DeLay's indictment on money laundering charges.
Perfect Wave contributed $15,000 in September 20, 2002 to Texans for a
Republican Majority, a fundraising committee founded by DeLay, R-Texas.
Former Rep. Randy "Duke" Cunningham resigned in late November after pleading
guilty to taking $2.4 million in bribes to steer defense contracts to
companies.
"He can subpoena all he wants, there's nothing there," said DeLay attorney
Dick DeGuerin. "I think he's trying to dig himself out of a hole. We're not
concerned about it."
The subpoenas also seek correspondence and internal accounting records.
Wilkes, head of Wilkes Corp., is one of four unnamed coconspirators listed
in Cunningham's plea agreement, Wilkes' attorney, Michael Lipman of San Diego,
has said. Lipman did not immediately return calls for comment.
Defense contractor ADCS and Perfect Wave Technologies are subsidiaries of
Wilkes Corp.
Gelwix was listed in federal campaign records last year as president and CEO
of Perfect Wave Technologies. A message left at his office was not immediately
returned.
Wilkes' company also hired Alexander Strategies, a consulting firm that
employed DeLay's wife Christine. His private jet company, Group W
Transportation, provided flights to DeLay three times. DeLay reimbursed Group W
as required, records show.
DeLay was forced to step aside as majority leader in late November after he
was indicted on state charges of conspiracy to violate Texas election laws. A
second grand jury indicted him on charges of conspiracy to launder money and
money laundering charges.
The initial charges have been dismissed, but a judge has let stand the
latter charges and DeLay faces possible trial on them.
Earle alleges that DeLay and two coconspirators funneled $190,000 in
corporate contributions through the Texas political committee and an arm of the
National Republican Committee to seven GOP state legislative candidates.
Earle alleges DeLay and his two associates were trying to circumvent Texas'
law prohibiting spending corporate money on campaigns, except for
administrative expenses.
DeLay, who denies wrongdoing, has been pressing for a quick resolution to
his case so he can regain his majority leader job before his colleagues call
for new leadership elections.
But Earle on Monday asked a judge to halt DeLay's trial while he appeals the
dismissal of the conspiracy charge. The judge in the case has said he is
unlikely to move forward with the case while the district attorney appeals, but
set a pretrial hearing for Dec. 27.
Associated Press writer Erica Werner contributed to this report.
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