Congressional Bribery and a DC Sex Scandal

"The bribery scandal that brought down Republican Rep. Randy "Duke" Cunningham may be linked to a sex scandal involving an operation that provided prostitutes, limos and hotel suites to Cunningham and other members of Congress," according to Scot J. Paltrow in the April 27, 2006, Wall Street Journal. "Investigators are reportedly interviewing female escorts and others as part of a broad inquiry." 

Brian Unger, who "guest hosted" April 28, 2006, on Countdown, "led with the latest allegations in the Randy "Duke" Cunningham scandal" [that] 'The three key ingredients of any D.C. key political scandal are as follows, sex, money, and the Watergate apartment complex. ... I guess the lesson no one seems to be learning, if you're going to do something illicit in Washington, do it at, say, the Comfort Inn in Tyson's Corner.'"

Call for Inquiry
"Representative Nancy Pelosi of California, the House Democratic leader, called for a Congressional ethics investigation into accusations that former Representative Randy Cunningham had been provided prostitutes by a military contractor. A spokesman for Speaker J. Dennis Hastert said any decision on an inquiry should be left to the ethics committee. Mr. Cunningham, a California Republican, resigned last year after pleading guilty to bribery charges." --Sheryl Gay Stolberg, New York Times, May 2, 2006.

Details

 * Brant Bassett, a.k.a. "Nine Fingers"
 * Randy "Duke" Cunningham
 * Kyle Dustin "Dusty" Foggo
 * Porter J. Goss
 * Mitchell J. Wade
 * Brent R. Wilkes
 * Shirlington Limousine and Transportation, Inc.

Related SourceWatch Resources

 * ADCS, Inc.
 * Bush administration scandals
 * Deborah Jeane Palfrey
 * MZM Inc.
 * Republican 'culture of corruption'

2005

 * Mark Walker, "Former congressman 'on the road to redemption,' attorney says," North County Times (San Diego and Riverside Counties, CA), April 24, 2006.
 * Dean Calbreath and Jerry Kammer, "Contractor 'knew how to grease the wheels'," San Diego Tribune, December 5, 2005.
 * "DC Sex Scandal About To Break?" The Hotline Blog/National Journal, December 5, 2005.
 * Daniel Hopsacker, "GOP Scandal Tied To Iran-Contra Drug Trafficking," Scoop (New Zealand), December 7, 2005.

April

 * Scot J. Paltrow, "Prosecutors May Widen Congressional-Bribe Case. Cunningham Is Suspected Of Asking for Prostitutes; Were Others Involved?" Wall Street Journal, April 27, 2006.
 * Ken Silverstein, "Red Lights on Capitol Hill," Washington Babylon/Harper's Magazine, April 27, 2006.
 * David Miller, "From Taegan Goddard's Political Wire...," CQ Politics.com, April 27, 2006.
 * Justin Rood, "Duke's Hooker Sex: How Long Has This Been Going On?" TPM Muckraker, April 27, 2006.
 * "Boring Ol’ Congressional Corruption Case NOW WITH HOOKERS," Wonkette, April 27, 2006.
 * "Report: FBI Probes Prostitution Angle In Cunningham Saga," NBCSanDiego.com, April 27, 2006.
 * "Cunningham scandal takes sordid turn," U-T Opinion Online Blog/San Diego Union-Tribune, April 27, 2006.
 * Old 33, "UPDATED: CIA's Goss at Cunningham's Hooker Parties?" Daily Kos, April 27, 2006.
 * "Goss denies that he partied with Wilkes," Think Progress, April 28, 2006.
 * Dean Calbreath, "Co-conspirator's possible links to prostitutes eyed," San Diego Tribune, April 28, 2006.
 * "Names Like 'Nine Fingers' and Dusty Foggo Make Even Gov't Contracting Interesting," Project on Government Oversight (POGO), April 28, 2006.
 * georgia10, "Republicans Involved In Lobbyist Sex Scandal At The Watergate Hotel?" Daily Kos, April 28, 2006.
 * Judd Legum, "'As Many as a Half a Dozen' Members of Congress May Be Involved in Prostitution Scandal," Think Progress, April 28, 2006.
 * Mark Sherman, "FBI probes contractor, ex-lawmaker ties," Associated Press (Seattle Post-Intelligencer); Townhall.com, April 28, 2006.
 * "Other Papers Looking to Advance 'WSJ' Scoop on Congressmen and Prostitutes," Editor & Publisher, April 28, 2006.
 * Laura Rozen, "More Cunningham Case Allegations: Poker Parties, Prostitutes -- and Planes," War and Piece, April 28, 2006.
 * "Hooker/Cunningham/Watergate: Who Didn't Get Hookers?" Wonkette!, April 28, 2006.
 * Jo Becker and Charles R. Babcock, "Prostitution alleged in Cunningham case. Feds investigating claims that contractor provided call girls to congressman," Washington Post (MSNBC), April 29, 2006.
 * "Source Claims Ex-Rep. Used Prostitutes," Associated Press/CBS News, April 29, 2006.
 * Dean Calbreath, "Feds examining Poway contractor's hotel-suite rentals," San Diego Union-Tribune, April 29, 2006: Note to readers: Because of production errors, the following story was garbled in two editions of yesterday's newspaper. It is reprinted here in its correct form.
 * "Prostitution Claims Enter Cunningham Probe," UPI (Monsters and Critics (UK)); Washington Times, April 29, 2006.
 * "Did Rep. Cunningham Receive Other Favors?" Los Angeles Times, April 29, 2006.
 * "Who Will Be the Woodward and Bernstein of New 'Watergate' Story?" Associated Press and Editor & Publisher Staff, Editor & Publisher, April 29, 2006.
 * Justin Rood, "Hookergate: Everybody Wants a Piece of the Action," TPM Muckraker, April 29, 2006.
 * "Prostitution Alleged In Cunningham Case," NewsMax, April 29, 2006.
 * John Files, "Prostitution Allegations Surface in a Congressional Bribery Case," New York Times, April 30, 2006.
 * Joseph, "Hookergate," Cannonfire Blogspot, April 30, 2006.

May

 * Ken Silverstein, "Follow-up: Red Lights on Capitol Hill. More details on Shirlington Limousine," Harper's, May 1, 2006.
 * "Introducing Hookergate @ Watergate: Porter Goss is a pimp; Cunningham scandal now includes Watergate prostitutes & poker," HongPong.com, May 1, 2006.
 * "GOP, Lobbyists, Prostitution Ring?" FreeMarketNews.com, May 1, 2006.
 * Katrina Vanden Heuvel, "The Pain Game," The Nation, May 1, 2006.
 * Justin Rood, "We Didn't Party With Wilkes, Lawmakers Say," TPM Muckraker, May 1, 2006.
 * Jim, "The Circle of Connections in Republican Hookergate Expands," Irregular Times, May 1, 2006.
 * Justin Rood, "Hookergate: What About the Limo Service?" TPM Muckraker, May 2, 2006.
 * Justin Rood, "Odd Links to Wilkes Surface in Shirlington's Records"; "Shirlington Limo: Dispatch from the Hunt"; "Shirlington Limo HQ: I've Been Kicked Outta Nicer Places"; "Shirlington Limo Had Gov License Revoked"; and "Harpers: Limo Company Had More Govt Contracts," TPM Muckraker, May 3, 2006.
 * Justin Rood, "GOP's Ed Rollins: Hookergate is 'Big'," TPM Muckraker, May 3, 2006.
 * Justin Rood, "Companies Say Shirlington Limo Was A Loner In D.C. Limo World," TPM Muckraker, May 4, 2006.
 * Justin Rood, "Watergate Subpoenaed in Hooker Probe," TPM Muckraker, May 4, 2006.
 * Justin Rood, "House Intel Chair 'Not Surprised' Duke Slept with Hookers," TPM Muckraker, May 4, 2006.
 * "Norah O'Donnell discusses Hookergate's possible connection to Goss," Crooks and Liars, May 5, 2006. re Norah O'Donnell
 * Joshua Micah Marshall, Talking Points Memo, May 5, 2006.
 * Evan Derkacz, "Hookers involved in Goss resignation?" AlterNet, May 5, 2006.
 * Jonathan Alter, "Raising the Bar on Losing a Job," The Huffington Post, May 5, 2006: "If CIA Director Porter Goss resigned because of a sex scandal, it will rock Washington, affect the midterm elections and give us all a lot to chew on for weeks or months. But long term, it will also indicate something of critical importance in understanding why President Bush will be viewed by history as a failed president: Apparently the only way to lose your job in the Bush Administration is by being disloyal (Paul O'Neill, Larry Lindsay [sic]) or by being a sleaze. ... Being incompetent is not a problem. ... Maybe he's innocent. But if he's not, the Goss firing may similarly raise the bar on what it takes to be relieved of one's duties. Anything short of being caught with hookers and you get to stay on."
 * Paul Kiel, "Limo Outfit's Owner Lawyers Up - and Up - and Up," TPM Muckraker, May 5, 2006.
 * Spencer Akerman, "Flat Denial on Foggo, Wilkes and Goss," The New Republic Blog, May 5, 2006.
 * Justin Rood, "DHS Defends Award for Scandal Limo Company; Contract Was 'Completely Up-and-Up'," TPM Muckraker, May 5, 2006.
 * Justin Rood, "Hookergate: No-Tell Motel?" and "Hookergate: Hitting the Streets, Coming Up Empty," TPM Muckraker, May 5, 2006.
 * Paul Kiel, "Barr: Hookergate to Blame for Hasty Goss Exit?" TPM Muckraker, May 5, 2006. re Congressman Bob Barr (R-GA)
 * Justin Rood, "Goss: Why the Rush? We Have An Idea," TPM Muckraker, May 5, 2006.
 * "Sex, Lies, and Government Contracts," The Progress Report/Center for American Progress (AlterNet), May 5, 2006.
 * "The Small World of Limos and Earmarks," Project on Government Oversight, May 5, 2006.
 * Charles R. Babcock and Jo Becker, "Limousine Firm Denies Allegations. Cunningham Was Not Provided With Prostitutes, Official Says," Washington Post, May 6, 2006.
 * Maureen Dowd, "Poker, Hookers, and Spooks," New York Times (The Progressive American), May 6, 2006.
 * Kevin Drum, "Turf War?" The Washington Monthly, May 6, 2006.
 * Laura Rozen, "So, the verdict is in," War and Piece, May 6, 2006.
 * Richard Sisk and James Gordon Meek, "CIA boss Goss is cooked. Tied to contractor's poker parties - hints of bribes & women," New York Daily News, May 6, 2006.
 * "CIA's number three official said to be under investigation for ties to bribery, hooker scandal," The Raw Story, May 6, 2006.
 * Paul von Zielbauer and David Johnston, "More Questions Surface in the Wake of a Congressman's Bribery Case," New York Times, May 7, 2006.
 * Sarah Baxter, "CIA chief quits after 'Hookergate'," Times Online (UK), May 7, 2006.
 * Paul Kiel, "NYT: House Committee to Investigate DHS Limo Contract," TPM Muckraker, May 7, 2006.
 * Justin Rood, "'Nine Fingers,' Poker-Playing CIA Man, I.D.'d," TPM Muckraker, May 7, 2006.
 * Richard Sisk, "Behind the Goss toss. W's 'alarmed' panel sealed top spy's fate," New York Daily News, May 7, 2006.
 * leveymg, "[UPDATED The FBI Busts Goss, Wilkes, and the GOP Domestic Spy Industry,"] Daily Kos, May 7, 2006.
 * Sarah Baxter, "Rumours swirl as CIA chief quits post," The Australian, May 8, 2006.
 * Mark Hosenball, "Changing the Guard. While Bush’s new CIA nominee preps for a tough nomination battle, agency No. 3 Dusty Foggo is leaving the agency," Newsweek (MSNBC), May 8, 2006.
 * Molly Ivins, "The Best Little Whorehouse in Washington," Truthdig, May 8, 2006: "Any journalist who claims Hookergate is not a legitimate scandal is dead—has been for some time and needs to be unplugged. In addition to sex, drugs and rock ’n’ roll, Hookergate is rife with public-interest questions, misfeasance, malfeasance and non-feasance, and many splendid moral points for the children. Recommended for Sunday school use, grades seven and above."
 * News Release: Letter re Shirlington Limousine and Transportation, Inc. from U.S. House of Representatives Homeland Security Democrats to Richard Skinner, Inspector General, Department of Homeland Security, May 8, 2006.
 * Nico Pitney, "The Importance of ‘Nine Fingers’: Second Powerful Goss Aide Linked to Wilkes Parties," Think Progress, May 8, 2006.
 * Russ Baker, "Crashing WatergateGate," Tom Paine.commonsense, May 8, 2006.
 * "Hayden Hit with Hookergate" and "Hookergate Strikes Again," Sploid, May 8, 2006. Good summary of details thus far.
 * Katrina vanden Heuvel, "Sex, Limos and Government Contracts," The Nation, May 8, 2006.
 * Dan Eggen and Charles R. Babcock, "CIA Official Quits; FBI Probes Role in Defense Contracts," Washington Post, May 9, 2006.
 * Marie Therese, "Government for Sale: Shady Defense Contractors, Greedy Lawmakers, Wild Poker Parties and Prostitution," News Hounds, May 9, 2006.
 * Charles R. Babcock and Jo Becker, "Ex-CIA Official Defends Ties With Contractor," Washington Post, May 11, 2006.
 * Dafna Linzer and Charles R. Babcock, "Ousted CIA No. 3 Is Target of Raids. Foggo's Home and Langley Office Swept in Corruption Probe," Washington Post, May 13, 2006.
 * Seth Hettena, "Rep. Cunningham's Plea Was Only the Start," Associated Press (Guardian Unlimited (UK)), May 13, 2006.
 * Mark Mazzetti and David Johnston, "C.I.A. Aide's House and Office Searched," New York Times, May 13, 2006.
 * Paul Kiel, "What's $20,000 Per Night Between Friends?" TPM Muckraker, May 13, 2006.
 * Paul Kiel, "Hookergate: The Early Years," TPM Muckraker, May 14, 2006.
 * Mark Hosenball, Evan Thomas and Michael Isikoff, "Intelligence: Goss Goes Out—But the CIA's Struggles Go On," Newsweek (MSNBC), May 15, 2006 (issue). See page two.
 * Justin Rood, "Hookergate: If Feds' Requests Are Any Clue, This is Big," TPM Muckraker, May 15, 2006.


 * Rhonda Schwartz, "Hawaiian Hideaway?" The Blotter Blog / ABC News, May 16, 2006.