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Agence France-PresseTrial starts in corruption case involving US lawmakerLOS ANGELES (AFP) - A defense contractor appeared for the first day of his trial Wednesday on charges that he paid 700,000 dollars in bribes to a former prominent US lawmaker who has since been sentenced for corruption.
Federal prosecutors accuse Brent Wilkes, the chief of firm ADCS Inc., of bribing former representative Randall "Duke" Cunningham in exchange for the California politician's help in winning lucrative government defense contracts.
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The Justice Department accuses Wilkes of showering Cunningham with "cash, checks, meals, limousine service, corporate jet travel, lodging, furnishings, boats, prostitution services, vacations and entertainment." In return for the bribes, the indictment alleged that Cunningham used his public office to influence the awarding of more than 100 million dollars' worth of defense contracts to Wilkes.
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The CIA's former number three official, Kyle "Dusty" Foggo, has also been charged with fraud in connection with the scandal.
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