Fraud Charges Could Be Out if Gov. Leaked Grand Jury Secrets

By law, grand jury proceedings are carried out in secret. But lawyers for an indicted defense contractor say government prosecutors leaked that secret to the press. The contractor -- Brent Wilkes -- is tied to Randy Duke Cunningham, who was convicted last year on corruption charges. Now Wilkes defense attorneys want conspiracy and bribery charges against Brent Wilkes dismissed. Full Focus Reporter Amita Sharma is here to guide us through the defense motion.

This week, Mark Geragos, attorney for Poway defense contractor Brent Wilkes, asked a federal judge to dismiss indictments against his client for conspiracy, money-laundering and fraud because Geragos says the government deliberately and illegally disclosed grand jury secrets to the press.

Amita Sharma talked with Guylyn Cummings, a local attorney specializing in first amendment issues, about Geragos' charges and what they could mean for the case, and for the reporters who received the leaks.

Geragos says during the federal grand jury proceedings, he received regular phone calls from reporters citing specific details about the pending indictments.

Prosecutors are expected to reply next week to Geregos's call to dismiss the charges against Wilkes because of the leaks.

Guests

• Thomas Watkins, the Associated Press.
• Emmet Pierce, the San Diego Union Tribune.
• Ed Joyce, KPBS News.