... cough!
Posted on 08/18/2006 3:54:53 PM PDT by NormsRevenge
The wife of disgraced former congressman Randy "Duke" Cunningham felt deceived about the extent of her now-estranged husband's corruption, she said in her first public interview since the scandal broke last year.
Nancy Cunningham told The New Republic magazine that she didn't question junkets paid by defense contractors because other senior congressional figures, including Speaker Dennis Hastert, joined in.
"How can it be illegal or unethical if the most important man in Congress is doing it?" she asked interviewer Kitty Kelley, the celebrity biographer.
Duke Cunningham, who held seats on powerful House intelligence and appropriations committees, resigned from Congress last November. He was sentenced in March to more than eight years in federal prison after pleading guilty to accepting $2.4 million in bribes.
Nancy Cunningham, 54, said in the Aug. 28 issue of the magazine that it was her husband's greed that led to his downfall.
"He grew tired of everything he collected and always wanted more," she said.
But she dismissed luxury items given to him as bribes - including yachts, homes and antique furnishings - as "not that great" and described their $2.55 million estate as "a fixer-upper."
Cunningham compared herself to former First Lady Pat Nixon.
"After Richard Nixon's scandal, she internalized his shame to such an extent that she suffered a stroke and died a miserable death," she said. "He got to live long enough to somewhat vindicate himself, but Pat Nixon got nothing. I will not let that happen to me."
Nancy Cunningham repeatedly called her husband Mr. Cunningham. "It's mental distancing. As far as I'm concerned, he no longer exists," she said.
The Cunninghams have been married since 1974 and have two daughters. Her attorney, James Macy, said the pair have been separated since July 2005, when FBI agents raided their Rancho Santa Fe home.
She said she told had her husband to review his transactions with the House Ethics Committee, and accused congressional staffers of keeping her in the dark about his activities.
"I feel they deceived me all along about what he was doing," she said.
She is currently suing the federal government to recover a share of the financial settlement Duke Cunningham forfeited to the federal government as part of his plea agreement.
Her attorneys say they believe her case will be settled in early September. Federal prosecutors involved with the case did not return a message left seeking comment.
Cunningham's attorney, K. Lee Blalack II, declined to comment about the article.
Well - as much as it pains me, a house for 2.5 million in Rancho Santa Fe just might be a fixer upper. We're in a far less exclusive area and there's a sign for a fixer upper for 1.9 million (it makes me laugh every time I see it.)
LOL.. It wouldn't surprise me,, I see properties locally that not 20 years ago were laughable at the prices asked, not anymore, 5 fold increases in values are not uncommon.
I've seen aerial photos of the Cunningham's fixer-upper. Believe me, it is a huge mansion, courtesy of more underhanded wheeling and dealing, no doubt (for him to have gotten it at that price). Mrs. Cunningham sounds like a whiny greedy b*tch. It's bad enough she's complaining about their "fixer-upper", but the yacht and antique furnishings aren't that great either? Puhleeeze!
Here's hoping her lawsuit gets her NOWHERE AND NOTHING!
all that anger will get you a heart attack someday -
She shouldn't get to profit from her husband's illegal activities - I was just making a remark of an area I know well...2.5 doesn't always buy a lot in that particular area
I guess she doesn't believe in for better or for worse, for richer or poorer, in sickness and in health...
Check the other thread from this morning on this.
She is lying.
Thanks, I'll link it up.
posted this morning from the SD U-T..
Nancy Cunningham Breaks Her Silence Concerning 'Duke' ^
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1686058/posts
Posted by jamese777
On News/Activism ^ 08/18/2006 12:23:37 PM PDT · 31 replies · 1,309+ views
Lying about not knowing anything?
... cough!
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