House Intelligence Committee to probe Cunningham's work on panel

AP via SF Gate ^ | November 30, 2005 | ERICA WERNER

[ncountylee]

The chairman of the House Intelligence Committee has asked committee attorneys to review former Rep. Randy "Duke" Cunningham's work on the panel to ensure he didn't improperly influence committee actions or decisions.

Rep. Pete Hoekstra, R-Mich., ordered the review after learning of Cunningham's guilty plea Monday to charges of corruption and tax evasion for taking $2.4 million in bribes, mostly from two defense contractors, in exchange for steering government business their way, said committee spokesman Jamal Ware.

Hoekstra also ordered Cunningham's access to classified information terminated immediately, Ware said Wednesday.

"He believes these concerns are incredibly serious, and that there has to be certainty that everything was done above-board on the Intelligence Committee," Ware said. He said, however, that Hoekstra did not believe Cunningham had improperly influenced committee business.

Cunningham, R-Calif., resigned from Congress after reaching the guilty plea. He was in his eighth term and had served since 2001 on the Intelligence Committee, and since this year as chairman of the panel's subcommittee on terrorism and human intelligence.

Committee lawyers will review committee bills and programs over which the panel has oversight authority for signs of improper involvement by Cunningham, Ware said.

[RTINSC]

When are the defense contractors going to be charged with bribing public officials?

[Names Ash Housewares]

I hope that enough of the man that Cunningham was remained that he didnt put our troops in danger because of contracts that should never have happened.

[RasterMaster]

When are the scumbags who dishonor the trust they were given when elected to office going to receive the tar 'n feathers that they most certainly deserve?

[calcowgirl]

From the Plea agreement (PDF) :

b. Defendant made recommendations and took other official action in order to influence the United States Congress's appropriations of funds to benefit Coconspirator No. 1 and Coconspirator No. 2, which defendant did, in part, because of his receipt of the above-described payments and benefits, and not because using Coconspirators Nos. 1 and 2 was in the best interest of the country;

c. Defendant used his public office and took other official action to pressure and influence United States Department of Defense personnel to award and execute government contracts in a manner that would benefit Coconspirator No. 1 and Coconspirator No. 2, which defendant did, in part, because of his receipt of the above-described payments and 'benefits, and not because using Coconspirators Nos. 1 and 2 was in the best interest of the country;

d. Defendant used his public office and took other official action in a manner that would benefit Coconspirator No. 3, which defendant did because of his receipt of the above¬described payments and benefits;

[newzjunkey]

I hadn't even considered that. He better not have put his fellow veterans in harms way to get a $7000 antique French toilet!

Can't believe such a morally bankrupt scumbag could have represented my district.

[Names Ash Housewares]

"Can't believe such a morally bankrupt scumbag could have represented my district."


Term limits.

Duke was a good man once. He turned to the dark side.
You look at his background and it just makes it so much worse. why?