SAN DIEGO -- Ex-defense contractor Brent Wilkes denied Tuesday that he bribed disgraced former congressman Randy "Duke" Cunningham with cash and gifts in return for help in landing millions of dollars in government contracts.

Wilkes, 53, is charged with 13 counts, including conspiracy, wire fraud, bribery of a public official, money laundering and unlawful monetary transactions.

The Poway businessman testified that he never gave Cunningham $100,000 as a ruse for a boat sale and never gave the former lawmaker $525,000 to pay off a home mortgage.

Cunningham pleaded guilty to accepting more than $2.4 million in bribes and was sentenced to more than eight years in federal prison. He was not called as a witness in Wilkes' trial.

Wilkes' attorney, Mark Geragos, contends former Wilkes consultant Mitchell Wade was 90 percent responsible for the bribery scandal involving Cunningham.

Wade pleaded guilty to conspiracy and other charges last year and has yet to be sentenced.

Closing arguments in Wilkes' trial are scheduled Tuesday afternoon.