Another part of the Duke Cunningham story that has me wondering.
In the charges filed against Duke Cunningham 
yesterday, “co-conspirator #3” is Thomas Kontogiannis. As you may remember from last summer, Kongtogiannis is the already-once-convicted-of-bribery fat cat who was in the mix buying Duke homes and swapping boats and all the rest of it. Page 5, item “d” says that Duke “used his public office and took other official action in a manner that would benefit” Kontogiannis. And that he did so because of all the money he gave Duke.
Okay, so clear enough. Kontogiannis was another guy who owned a piece of Duke and Duke pulled government strings for him.
So what was Duke doing for Kontogiannis?
Back on Oct. 19th 2000 Duke wrote a letter to a New York DA then investigating Kontogiannis, trying to get the guy to back off. But I think this is prior to the time frame in question.
What I keep coming back to is this passage from a September 24th article in the San Diego Union-Tribune …
In a previously undisclosed link between Cunningham and Kontogiannis, the developer accompanied the congressman to Saudi Arabia last year. A Saudi-American businessman flew Cunningham to Saudi Arabia twice last year aboard a private jet. On the second trip, the jet stopped in Athens to pick up Kontogiannis, a native of Greece with businesses interests in several countries.
Ziyad Abduljawad, founder and chairman of San Diego-based PLC Land Co., paid for Cunningham’s two trips to Saudi Arabia, each at a cost of more than $10,000. Cunningham has described Abduljawad as an acquaintance who shares his interest in improving U.S.-Saudi relations.
Kontogiannis “went as a friend of Duke’s,” said Harmony Allen, Cunningham’s chief of staff. “That’s the extent of it. Duke asked him to go as a friend. I’m not sure if (Kontogiannis) had a special interest (in visiting) Saudi Arabia or not.”
It was unclear who paid for Kontogiannis’ trip.
Remember, Duke just pled guilty to accepting numerous bribes from Kontogiannis in exchanging for putting the power of his office at Kontogiannis’s disposal.
What was Duke doing stopping in Athens to pick up Kontogiannis to take to Saudi on his trip to improve relations between the US and Saudi Arabia?
Sure, Duke’s history. But this case goes beyond Duke Cunningham. There’s more here.
