Anonymous Donor Can't Post Bail, Federal Judge Says
An anonymous donor who has offered to post bail for a jailed California businessman can’t do so unless he’s willing to reveal his name, a federal judge says.
Brent Wilkes, 54, is serving a 12-year sentence for bribing a former congressman, Randy “Duke” Cunningham, but will be released while he appeals his conviction if he posts $1.4 million bail. His lawyer, Robert Rexrode, says the man who has offered to make up the shortfall could lose his job if he is publicly associated with Wilkes, the Union-Tribune reports.
However, U.S. District Judge Larry Burns ruled yesterday that the man can’t post bail anonymously. “This person … has to step up and stand here with Mr. Wilkes,” the judge said.
Assistant U.S. attorney Jason Forge said it would be unprecedented to keep secret the identity of a person guaranteeing bail.
Related coverage:
Union-Tribune (2006): “Cunningham’s Day of Reckoning”
CNN (2006): “Crooked congressman going to prison”
