I think they should reveal who these defense contractors are.SAN DIEGO - Rep. Randy "Duke" Cunningham, an eight-term congressman and hotshot Vietnam War fighter jock, pleaded guilty to graft and tearfully resigned Monday, admitting he took $2.4 million in bribes mostly from defense contractors in exchange for government business and other favors.
"The truth is I broke the law, concealed my conduct, and disgraced my office," the 63-year-old Republican said at a news conference. "I know that I will forfeit my freedom, my reputation, my worldly possessions, most importantly, the trust of my friends and family."
He could get up to 10 years in prison at sentencing Feb. 27 on federal charges of conspiracy to commit bribery and fraud, and tax evasion.
Investigators said Cunningham, a member of a House Appropriations subcommittee that controls defense dollars, secured contracts worth tens of millions of dollars for those who paid him off. Prosecutors did not identify the defense contractors.
Cunningham, a swaggering former flying ace with the Navy during the Vietnam War, was known on Capitol Hill for his interest in defense issues and his occasional outbursts.
In court documents, prosecutors said Cunningham admitted receiving at least $2.4 million in bribes paid in a variety of forms, including checks totaling over $1 million, cash, antiques, rugs, furniture, yacht club fees and vacations.
Among other things, prosecutors said, Cunningham was given $1.025 million to pay down the mortgage on his Rancho Santa Fe mansion, $13,500 to buy a Rolls-Royce and $2,081 for his daughter's graduation party at a Washington hotel.
"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," U.S. Attorney Carol Lam said.
Now this is one outrageous story. Remember the GOP's "Contract With America"?SAN DIEGO - Rep. Randy "Duke" Cunningham, an eight-term congressman and hotshot Vietnam War fighter jock, pleaded guilty to graft and tearfully resigned Monday, admitting he took $2.4 million in bribes mostly from defense contractors in exchange for government business and other favors.
"The truth is I broke the law, concealed my conduct, and disgraced my office," the 63-year-old Republican said at a news conference. "I know that I will forfeit my freedom, my reputation, my worldly possessions, most importantly, the trust of my friends and family."
He could get up to 10 years in prison at sentencing Feb. 27 on federal charges of conspiracy to commit bribery and fraud, and tax evasion.
Investigators said Cunningham, a member of a House Appropriations subcommittee that controls defense dollars, secured contracts worth tens of millions of dollars for those who paid him off. Prosecutors did not identify the defense contractors.
OK Republicans...please spin your magic out of the current events of the day with so many GOP politicians under indictment or already pleading guilty?As Republican Members of the House of Representatives and as citizens seeking to join that body we propose not just to change its policies, but even more important, to restore the bonds of trust between the people and their elected representatives.
Power tends to corrupt; absolute power corrupts absolutely
26 X World Champs said:OK Republicans...please spin your magic out of the current events of the day with so many GOP politicians under indictment or already pleading guilty?
Pacridge said:The Dukester goes down, the Dukester goes down.
Didn't I hear Rush (maybe it was Hannity??) just last week tell me how this was nothing but a left wing smear campaign and that Cunningham was completely innocent?
KCConservative said:Why assume that there will be spinning? If he broke the law, which is what he is admitting to, then he needs to go to jail. Sounds like the only spin is coming from you, Champs. Save your hate for another day.
Could it be the left just can't get enough bashing?:thinkingakyron said:Agree, If he broke the law, which is what he is admitting to, then he needs to go to jail...... Whats to spin?
KCConservative said:Did you? Gosh, I bet there would be a link to that. Please provide it. Thanks.
TheSushiKing said:Under what authority might one be FORCED to work for chump change?e:
Binary_Digit said:He managed to apologize to his family, but not the American people!
26 X World Champs said:OK Republicans...please spin your magic /QUOTE]
Looks like he got caught. He should be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law. Looks like the Republicans here are all saying he should pay. Looks like your hate is showing champs. Nice try.
KCConservative said:Did you? Gosh, I bet there would be a link to that. Please provide it. Thanks.
Pacridge said:I probably could find a link with something to the effect. But it's not going to come from rush.com or hannity.com. It's going to come from someplace like mediamatters.com or some other left leaning site. I'll save myself the time and not bother.
teacher said:Why can't you take Pacridge at his word? In situations like this I feel the onus is on the questioner to prove something wrong.
KCConservative said:Then you still have a few things to learn about debating. The one making the claim has the burden to prove. He didn't hear Rush or Sean say any such thing and he's already said he isn't going to bother supplying anything to substantiate his claim...because he can't.
What about those buttocks on his head? That could get tough to find.teacher said:Why can't you take Pacridge at his word? In situations like this I feel the onus is on the questioner to prove something wrong. And if you do THEN go for the throat. We should on this site give everyone the benefit of the doubt. Otherwords, what's the point? Links are damn near useless IMO. I can show you a link supporting Billo's back hair being attractive to the ladies.
teacher said:Whatever, I believe him. Debate styles differ.
Water is wet. Shall I provide a link?
galenrox said:yeah, but you're also taking issue with Pacridge asking a question. He said "Didn't Rush or Hannity say something about this being left wing smear and that Cummingham was completely innocent?", if you recall correctly. Now if he was trying to state that as fact, wouldn't he have decided whether it was Rush or Hannity talking?
Hannity and Limbaugh both have links to their full show transcripts. If pacridge heard either one of them say it, then he could easily produce the quote. The reason he isn;t coming forward with anything is because it didn't happen. It is customary to run off after being backed into a corner. Case in point: Pacridge.galenrox said:Still, he wasn't stating it as certain clear fact. If he was doing something that required a link, he would've said if it was Hannity or Rush dude!
You did get me though.:doh
galenrox said:Or it could be that he did hear it, but doesn't want to read through the entire transcripts of the Hannity and Rush shows.
Plus, considering that the transcripts of these shows are posted by people who work under Rush and Hannity, wouldn't it be reasonable to believe that they might delete something once it proved to be wrong?
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