http://www.cnn.com/2005/POLITICS/11/28/cunningham/index.html Congressman resigns after bribery plea California Republican admits selling influence for $2.4 million Monday, November 28, 2005; Posted: 4:52 p.m. EST (21:52 GMT) CNN) -- Rep. Randy "Duke" Cunningham said Monday he is resigning from Congress after pleading guilty to taking more than $2 million in bribes in a criminal conspiracy involving at least three defense contractors. Asked by U.S. District Judge Larry Burns if he had accepted cash and gifts and then tried to influence the Defense Department on behalf of the donors, Cunningham said, "Yes, your honor." Cunningham's plea agreement with federal prosecutors stemmed from an investigation of the 2003 sale of his California home to a defense contractor for an inflated price. Under the agreement, Cunningham acknowledged a conspiracy to commit bribery, mail and wire fraud and tax evasion. He also pleaded guilty to a separate tax evasion violation for failing to disclose income in 2004. Prosecutors said Cunningham had taken bribes from contractors, which enabled him to buy a mansion, a suburban Washington condominium, a yacht and a Rolls Royce. A government statement said Cunningham received at least $2.4 million in bribes and will forfeit his $2.5 million mansion and about $1.8 million in cash, antiques, furnishings and other valuables. The charges carry a potential penalty of 10 years in prison and up to $350,000 in fines. Sentencing is scheduled for February 27. "The citizens who elected Cunningham assumed that he would do his best for them," said U.S. Attorney Carol Lam. "Instead, 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." After entering his plea in San Diego, California, the eight-term California Republican said he was "deeply sorry." "The truth is I broke the law, concealed my conduct and disgraced my office," he told reporters, his voice strained with emotion. "I know I will forfeit my reputation, my worldly possessions -- most importantly the trust of my friends and family." Cunningham, 63, sold his San Diego-area house in 2003 for $1.6 million to defense contractor Mitchell Wade, who then sold it for $700,000 less. The transactions sparked allegations that the contractor had bought the house at the higher price as payback for Cunningham's pressing the Pentagon to award contracts to the defense contractor. Cunningham, whose annual salary is about $160,000, then bought the $2.5 million mansion. Over the summer, federal agents raided Cunningham's California home, a boat he lives on while in Washington and the Washington offices of Wade's former employer, defense contractor MZM Inc. A decorated former Navy fighter pilot who shot down five MIGs in Vietnam, Cunningham served as an instructor in the Navy's famed "Top Gun" program. "I learned in Vietnam that the true measure of a man is how he responds to adversity," he said. "I can't undo what I have done, but I can atone." "I'm almost 65 years old and I enter the twilight of my life. I intend to use the remaining time that God grants me to make amends, and I will." He left the podium without responding to questions. Cunningham was first elected in 1990. He represented the 50th District, which includes parts of San Diego and its northern suburbs. The district is solidly Republican. He served on a powerful defense appropriations subcommittee that approves spending for defense programs. Cunningham said in July that he wouldn't seek a ninth term next year; denying any wrongdoing at the time, he said that he intended to finish the remainder of his current term. The congressman said then that he decided not to run for re-election in part because of the toll the investigation had taken on his family and standing in the community. (Full story) "I publicly declared my innocence because I was not strong enough to face the truth," he said Monday. "So I misled my family, friends, staff, colleagues, the public, and even myself." In a written statement, House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi, a California Democrat, said the case "is just the latest example of the culture of corruption that pervades the Republican-controlled Congress, which ignores the needs of the American people to serve wealthy special interests and their cronies." CNN's Ed Henry contributed to this story.
No kidding! That one and the, "Republican Congress Going Down in '06!" thread. Uh, if anyone's started it yet, that is. Keep D&D Civil.
Whoops my bad! I haven't had a chance to look at any of those other threads so didn't know this topic had been brought up already. Mods, please lock this thread.
...and he can't be the only one. Well, he isn't. A "campaign donation" is a bribe. And in order for a somewhat decent politician to compete with a politician who has been "donated" to, the somewhat decent politician has to get in on it... If Jesus really is in the hearts of so many politicians (as many proudly declare through, at least, their actions) - I wish he'd get out of their hearts and chase some of the moneylenders out of the temple again.
"Duke Cunningham is a hero,” DeLay said during a press briefing Tuesday. “He is an honorable man of high integrity." DeLay defends Cunningham's home sale
But in a free society shouldn't it be the right of citizens to donate money to candidates that they think will advance their political cause. Also while political donations by advertizing and publicity the voters still have the final say. Voters aren't helpless and if a candidate is running on an issue that is unpopular with the voter they will likely lose no matter how much money is spent.
IMO, individuals giving money to candidates should be allowed, with limits as to the amount that a single person can contribute. However, special interest groups, unions, and corporations should not be able to give money to candidates since the government is supposed to be By, Of, and For the People, not the special interests.
What about a set amount for each politician to spend. Governed by someone outside the country with no political ties. It is already obvious that politicians cannot govern themselves. Political donations is bribery\extortion IMO.
I would be a proponent of publicly funded elections. I would not give govornance to anyone outside the country, but I would give each candidate an equal amount of money and air time (because if the elections were publicly funded, the entire slate of advertisements could be bid for all at once) and let them do with it as they will. We could easily elect the entire slate of federal officials (Senators, Representatives, and the President) for far less than the $200 million that GWB alone spent in the last election cycle.
But the special interests aren't some machine or alien species but are composed of people too. Why shouldn't a group of like minded individuals pool their resources to fund candidates who they support and organize to promote a political cause? I would say goes under the right of Association and speech.
Why is the max for taking bribes to hook folks up with defense contracts only 10 years? You can get time to rival that for drug possession....
esp considered that these bribes could equal 1. Over Paying for guns, ammo, etc so OUR SOLDIERS HAVE LESS THAN THEY NEED 2. Creation of Inferior Equipment . . WHICH PUTS SOLDIERS IN HARMS WAY This is UNAMERICAN and borderline TRAITOROUS!! Rocket River
