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Posted on 11/28/2005 11:50:36 AM PST by standingfirm
SAN DIEGO — Rep. Randy "Duke" Cunningham pleaded guilty Monday to conspiracy and tax charges involving the sale of his home two years ago to a defense contractor at an inflated price.
Admitting to a judge that he took bribes, Cunningham entered pleas in U.S. District Court to charges of conspiracy to commit mail fraud and wire fraud and tax evasion for underreporting his income in 2004.
Cunningham, 63, and his wife, Nancy, used the proceeds from the $1,675,000 sale to defense contractor Mitchell Wade to buy a $2.55 million mansion in ritzy 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.
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.
Cunningham, an eight-term congressman, announced in July that he wouldn't seek re-election next year. The former Vietnam War flying ace is known on Capitol Hill for his interest in defense issues and his occasional temperamental outbursts.
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
(Excerpt) Read more at foxnews.com ...
The left has certainly NEVER been guilty of anything remotely wrong! Remember, they have the best interests of 'the people' ahead of all else! /s o
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What's sad is that he has slimed his colleagues, Party, principles and positions.
He deserves stern consequences-- he has earned them.
To say "he was a good man" is inappropriately vague. Better to say, "It is a shame that his principled stances and services to his constituents will now forever be shadowed by his admitted corruption. Let us be very clear and separate his good work from his bad deeds. For those, he will not be missed."
yep, Republican
Well, he screwed us patriots good, anyways.
Corruption should not be tolerated from anyone in government, especially a Republican. But, what troubles me is that the democrats engage in the same type of behaviour and pay NO price for it. Take the Abramoff investigation, for example. There are as many dems implicated there as Republicans. The question is, will the Republicans be the only one's to fall? It better not be the case. It is time for the Republicans to start firing back at the dems and making sure that this is not a one sided affair.
A thousand attaboys will make one a leader amongst men....one "aw sheaht" wipes the slate clean.
Duke Cunningham was one of my heroes! If I remember correctly, he reached the "ace" status as a fighter pilot during the Vietnam War - in addition to being shot down by a SAM and just making it to the ocean for a friendly recovery. It so sad to see someone you respect succumb to these type criminal temptations. Additionally, such tends to reflect badly on all politicians and our system.
In my life's experience, I believe the reason most people are against bribes is they weren't ever offered any.
And the reason many bribes are refused is you can't trust the people who offer them to keep quiet. Some are refused of course from a moral point of view.- tom
No, he's a sleazy, greedy pile of crap who only resigned when he knew he was obviously going down - he knew he was guilty all along but wanted to keep his parasitic position "serving the public" when he knew he was really a worthless felon.
Standard Republican Big Government politician, just like democRat Big Government politicians. Yet the Repulicans were all in a lather to get him reelected.
Another political lifer, loser, hack.
Duke was a good pilot. He was NOT a good officer. His credentials would have made him an Admiral if he had been more professional in his duties beyond flying.
"Cunningham was the only American to shoot down three MiGs in one day. He would receive the Navy Cross for his heroism and superior airmanship on this day."
Duke was and is a good man, who made a bad mistake!
He wasn't even running for re-election.
That's what I thought too. Maybe they got the wrong man.
;)
That's why I said was not is.
He was never a good man. We just didn't know at the time that he was corrupt.
We thought he was a good man. We were wrong.
You are exactly correct on both counts.
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