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Prosecutors recommend 10-year maximum for ex-Rep. Cunningham
AP ^ | 2/17/6 | SETH HETTENA

Posted on 02/17/2006 6:07:49 PM PST by SmithL

SAN DIEGO -- Prosecutors have recommended that disgraced former Rep. Randy "Duke" Cunningham receive a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison for his "stunning betrayal of the public trust," according to a sentencing memorandum filed Friday.

"Cunningham used his status as a war hero to get into Congress, and then he used his Congressional office to get rich," prosecutors wrote in the 35-page memorandum. "For the better part of a decade, Cunningham, in effect, erected a 'for sale' sign upon our nation's capital."

Cunningham, 64, resigned from Congress last year after pleading guilty to accepting $2.4 million in bribes from defense contractors and others in exchange for defense contracts and other favors. The former "Top Gun" flight instructor and Vietnam War flying ace is scheduled to be sentenced March 3 in U.S. District Court in San Diego.

(Excerpt) Read more at sfgate.com ...


TOPICS: Constitution/Conservatism; Crime/Corruption; Culture/Society; Government; News/Current Events; Politics/Elections; US: California
KEYWORDS: 109th; cunningham; duke; dukecunningham; fhim
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How sad.
1 posted on 02/17/2006 6:07:52 PM PST by SmithL
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To: SmithL

Sad but OK, He was the real deal, a big time crooked politician.


2 posted on 02/17/2006 6:10:38 PM PST by ansel12
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To: SmithL

My God he went down for 140K ??


3 posted on 02/17/2006 6:14:05 PM PST by Steveone (Paradise is a World free of Liberals.)
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To: SmithL


Can't say I'm sad about it, just disappointed.


4 posted on 02/17/2006 6:14:58 PM PST by jazusamo (A Progressive is only a Socialist in a transparent disguise.)
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To: SmithL

Just saw him on a documentary about dogfighting in Korea and Vietnam, back when his name was still good. Sad case but he earned the maximum sentence. I hope he still has enough left of his old sense of duty to come clean on it all. Come on, Duke, notch up another five Congresscritters.


5 posted on 02/17/2006 6:20:45 PM PST by NonValueAdded ("If I were a Cuban, I'd certainly be on a raft," Isane Aparicio Busto)
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To: SmithL

And Sandy Burgler got what?


6 posted on 02/17/2006 6:22:32 PM PST by Spirited
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To: SmithL

I hope the judge lands on him like a DI lands on a Marine Recruit stepping off the bus. Cut no slack, give no quarter.


7 posted on 02/17/2006 6:26:54 PM PST by kilowhskey (Land of the free, because of the brave.)
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To: SmithL

we got to stop the madness with the war hero, sports figure thing...


8 posted on 02/17/2006 6:30:10 PM PST by ronnied (we are the only animals that bare our teeth in greeting...)
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To: SmithL
10 years is a bit much, he is just dumb and never should have taken that job. He was a solid vote for the military, we are going to miss that, but he is quilty and unlike the dems we take care of our bad ones
9 posted on 02/17/2006 6:43:53 PM PST by Roverman2K
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To: SmithL

he gets ten years for money, but sex offenders get 6 weeks for ruining lives...go figure


10 posted on 02/17/2006 6:50:02 PM PST by Jewels1091
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To: SmithL

I don't know the total misdeeds he was involved with and the prosecutors may not either.

But if this does go down and he gets 10 years then it maybe the beginning of the end of just a slap on the wrist for the politicians and corporate leaders who misuse the public and employee trust.


11 posted on 02/17/2006 6:53:04 PM PST by deport
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To: SmithL
How sad.

Yeah. I hope he gets the max sentence, thought -- it might help put fear into others in congress.

12 posted on 02/17/2006 7:00:56 PM PST by 68skylark
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To: ansel12

But .. those of us in SD - know the person he used to be and he was not a "big time crook".


13 posted on 02/17/2006 7:11:46 PM PST by CyberAnt (Democrat Leadership = No program - no ideas - no clue.)
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To: Steveone
he went down for 140K ??

Where did you get that number. From this story, "accepting $2.4 million in bribes"

14 posted on 02/17/2006 7:20:26 PM PST by PAR35
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To: Jewels1091

You know, I almost agreed with you, then ----
The Colonel took two Oaths of Office:
1.When he was sworn in as an Officer in the Service of USA.
2.When he was sworn in as a Member of Congress.
Each Oath was sacred. He forgot the 2nd Oath for personal gain.
He knew.
If you do the crime you can do the time.


15 posted on 02/17/2006 7:22:20 PM PST by TaMoDee
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To: PAR35
"defense contractor Mitchell Wade — $16 million in contracts in exchange for a $140,000 bribe, which came in the form a 42-foot yacht, the Duke-Stir"

This is what I was referring to seems a little cheap for selling your soul over the 16 mill in contracts!
16 posted on 02/17/2006 7:29:55 PM PST by Steveone (Paradise is a World free of Liberals.)
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To: SmithL
And he gets what he deserves, while William Jefferson, "D" of LA will get a cake walk and become the left's newest martyr.
17 posted on 02/17/2006 7:36:50 PM PST by Ursus arctos horribilis
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To: SmithL

Cunningham went from hero to disgusting. Now we need to get the lot of remaining congressional crooks!!!


18 posted on 02/17/2006 7:40:36 PM PST by RAY
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To: SmithL

He is both a crook and a fool and deserves what he gets. I hope he can share a cell with Congressman William Jefferson (D-La.)


19 posted on 02/17/2006 7:52:29 PM PST by Malesherbes
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To: Steveone
seems a little cheap for selling your soul over the 16 mill in contracts!

But he didn't sell to just one person. He was more like a time share - he sold himself multiple times.

20 posted on 02/17/2006 8:15:13 PM PST by PAR35
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