Remember this guy? I dont care your party, you lie, you cheat, you steal....I applaud when youre exposed and run out of town. I hope this guy goes to jail.


Calif. Congressman Admits Taking Bribes

By ELLIOT SPAGAT, Associated Press Writer 45 minutes ago

SAN DIEGO - Rep. Randy "Duke" Cunningham pleaded guilty Monday to conspiracy and tax charges and tearfully resigned from office, admitting he took $2.4 million in bribes to steer defense contracts to conspirators.

Cunningham, 63, entered pleas in U.S. District Court to charges of conspiracy to commit bribery, mail fraud and wire fraud, and tax evasion for underreporting his income in 2004.

Cunningham answered "yes, Your Honor" when asked by U.S. District Judge Larry Burns if he had accepted bribes from someone in exchange for his performance of official duties.

Later, at a news conference, he wiped away tears as he announced his resignation.

"I can't undo what I have done but I can atone," he said.

Cunningham, an eight-term Republican congressman, had already announced in July that he would not seek re-election next year.

House Ethics rules say that any lawmaker convicted of a felony no longer should vote or participate in committee work. Under Republican caucus rules, Cunningham also would have lost his chairmanship of the House Intelligence subcommittee on terrorism and human intelligence.

The former Vietnam War flying ace was known on Capitol Hill for his interest in defense issues and his occasional temperamental outbursts.

After the hearing, Cunningham was taken away for fingerprinting and released on his own recognizance until a Feb. 27 sentencing hearing. He could receive up to 10 years in prison.

He also agreed to forfeit to the government his Rancho Santa Fe home, more than $1.8 million in cash and antiques and rugs.

In a statement, prosecutors said Cunningham admitted to receiving at least $2.4 million in bribes paid to him by several conspirators through a variety of methods, including checks totaling over $1 million, cash, rugs, antiques, furniture, yacht club fees and vacations.

"He did the worst thing an elected official can do — he enriched himself through his position and violated the trust of those who put him there," U.S. Attorney Carol Lam said. The statement did not identify the conspirators.

The case began when authorities started investigating whether Cunningham and his wife, Nancy, used the proceeds from the $1,675,000 sale to defense contractor Mitchell Wade to buy the $2.55 million mansion in Rancho Santa Fe. Wade put the Del Mar house back on the market and sold it after nearly a year for $975,000 — a loss of $700,000.

He drew little notice outside his San Diego-area district before the San Diego Union-Tribune reported last June that he'd sold the home to Wade.

Cunningham's pleas came amid a series of GOP scandals. Rep.
Tom DeLay of Texas had to step down as majority leader after he was indicted in a campaign finance case; a stock sale by Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist is being looked at by regulators; and Vice President
Dick Cheney's chief of staff was indicted in the
CIA leak case.

Oh yeah, I remember this guy. Good riddance is right.

Agreed.

who gets bribed with a rug? I mean seriously

He brought it on himself, so he should indeed go through the process just like anybody else. But I do hate to see it, considering his background.

In 1966, at the age of 25, Cunningham joined the U.S. Navy and became one of the most highly decorated pilots in the Vietnam War. As the first fighter ace of the war, Cunningham was nominated for the Medal of Honor, received the Navy Cross, two Silver Stars, fifteen Air Medals, the Purple Heart, and several other decorations.

Duke's experience in Vietnam and his background as an educator prepared him well to train fighter pilots at the Navy Fighter Weapons School -- the famed "Top Gun" program at Miramar Naval Air Station. As Commanding Officer of the elite Navy Adversary Squadron, Cunningham flew Russian tactics and formations against America's best combat fighter pilots. Many of his real-life experiences as a Navy aviator and fighter pilot instructor were depicted in the popular movie "Top Gun."

Like I said, he brought it on himself & I'm not suggesting for a moment he shouldn't get exactly what anybody else would get under the same circumstances ... but I find it sad enough that he put himself in the situation that I really don't feel like there's any cause for celebration either.

One too many fly-bys by hot shot pilots, and he needed the extra money to buy new shirts and more coffee.

About a Dem who dares question the war JIMG says,

Just because someone HAS served doesn't mean that they've retained their courage, their judgement, or their intellect.

Still, as far as I can tell, he's not so much a coward as he is a damned fool ... but that seems to be a celebrated quality these days.

About a Repub who pleads guilty to recieving bribes that influenced defense contracts during a war he says,

But I do hate to see it, considering his background.

In 1966, at the age of 25, Cunningham joined the U.S. Navy and became one of the most highly decorated pilots in the Vietnam War. As the first fighter ace of the war, Cunningham was nominated for the Medal of Honor, received the Navy Cross, two Silver Stars, fifteen Air Medals, the Purple Heart, and several other decorations.

Duke's experience in Vietnam and his background as an educator prepared him well to train fighter pilots at the Navy Fighter Weapons School -- the famed "Top Gun" program at Miramar Naval Air Station. As Commanding Officer of the elite Navy Adversary Squadron, Cunningham flew Russian tactics and formations against America's best combat fighter pilots. Many of his real-life experiences as a Navy aviator and fighter pilot instructor were depicted in the popular movie "Top Gun."

About a Dem who dares question the war JIMG says,
... About a Repub who pleads guilty to recieving bribes that influenced defense contracts during a war he says,

And your point?

Cunningham's judgement, in getting involved with the bribes et al, was pretty shitty, pretty easy to say it he was "a damned fool" to do so. And I do find that a rather sad sight to see.

Problem is, you seem to be trying to suggest that I don't find it sad to see others who have lost "their courage, their judgement, or their intellect."
And the problem with that is that it's a long way from the truth of the matter.

It saddens me quite a bit to see once heroic (for lack of a better word) figures lose their way. But that doesn't make them immune from criticism/scorn/rebuke any more than Cunningham is immune from punishment.

He brought it on himself, so he should indeed go through the process just like anybody else. But I do hate to see it, considering his background.

In 1966, at the age of 25, Cunningham joined the U.S. Navy and became one of the most highly decorated pilots in the Vietnam War. As the first fighter ace of the war, Cunningham was nominated for the Medal of Honor, received the Navy Cross, two Silver Stars, fifteen Air Medals, the Purple Heart, and several other decorations.

Duke's experience in Vietnam and his background as an educator prepared him well to train fighter pilots at the Navy Fighter Weapons School -- the famed "Top Gun" program at Miramar Naval Air Station. As Commanding Officer of the elite Navy Adversary Squadron, Cunningham flew Russian tactics and formations against America's best combat fighter pilots. Many of his real-life experiences as a Navy aviator and fighter pilot instructor were depicted in the popular movie "Top Gun."

Like I said, he brought it on himself & I'm not suggesting for a moment he shouldn't get exactly what anybody else would get under the same circumstances ... but I find it sad enough that he put himself in the situation that I really don't feel like there's any cause for celebration either.
Shit I didn't realize it was "THAT" Duke Cunningham. I didn't realize he had gone into politics. Well frankly I didn't realize the sleaze bag politician's nickname was "Duke". In any case, the fact that he had a heroic past does add a sad note to a story, that I'd otherwise have a pretty difficult time finding any sympathy for. He is a guy who I've held in high esteem for a number of years. It does go to show that even guys that are made of stiff stuff are also susceptible to frailties of character.

I read the story on msnbc earlier today, but I didn't take the time to find Flasch's original post to bump.

Shit I didn't realize it was "THAT" Duke Cunningham.

If it makes you feel any better, I didn't realize it until the last time this scandal came up in the news either. (Notable, I guess, since he had been in the news numerous times prior to the scandal stuff.)

Sad end to the political career of a war hero. But, you reap what you sow. And from the sound of it, there are some others on Capitol Hill that are gonna get caught up in this.

hxxp://www.10news.com/news/7654091/detail.html

BREAKING NEWS: Cunningham Sentenced To 8 Years, 4 Months
Cunningham Spared Maximum Sentence Of 10 Years

SAN DIEGO -- Former Rep. Randy "Duke" Cunningham has been sentenced to 8 years, 4 months in prison for taking $2.4 million in bribes in return for unduly influencing the awarding of Defense Department contracts.

Judge Larry Burns ordered Cunningham to pay almost $2 million restitution in back taxes.

Burns also told Cunningham he will be sent to prison next Friday. He recommended Cunningham go to Taft prison near Bakersfield.

Berfore the sentencing Cunningham told Burns, "No man has ever been more sorry. I accept responsibility."

He also said that he hopes to see his 91-year-old mother one last time before he goes to jail.

Cunningham pleaded guilty last Nov. 28 to conspiracy and evading more than $1 million in taxes.

Prosecutors had recommended a 10-year prison sentence for the former Republican congressman from Rancho Santa Fe, saying he "bullied" Pentagon officials to award contracts to defense contractors who bribed him.

Cunningham's only motivation was to make sure his co-conspirators "gorged themselves at the national trough, regardless of the national interest," prosecutors said in a 14-page pre-sentencing report.

Defense attorneys urged the judge to sentence Cunningham to six years in prison, giving the decorated Vietnam War fighter pilot credit for saving the lives of fellow Americans while risking his own.

Attorneys also said Cunningham's lack of criminal record, advancing age and declining health -- he has undergone surgery for prostate cancer -- made a six-year sentence more appropriate.

Cunningham resigned in disgrace last year. A special election will be held April 11 to elect a candidate to finish Cunningham's term in the 50th Congressional District. Eighteen candidates, including 14 Republicans, will appear on the ballot.

I remember writing a report about his Vietnam exploits when I was in middle school. Sorry way to end a life.

You fuck with the bull you get the horns.

That's a phrase that needs to be more prolific. Or something like that.

Did anybody else see his "bribe menu"? He was dumb enough to write down how much of a bribe it would take to get a certain amount of defense contract.