Capitol Hill Blue - Cunningham begs for mercy

CHB Home / Half-Shell Home/ Print This Page / Email this page

Cunningham begs for mercy

March 2, 2006 10:11 AM / Capitol Hillbillies .

Former California Republican Congressman Randy "Duke" Cunningham, who showed no compassion for the voters who trusted him in office when he took bribes to enrich his lifestyle, is now pleading for mercy before the judge who is set to sentence him today.

Cunningham, who pleaded guilty to corruption on a scale unparalleled in the history of Congress, now has the gall to ask a federal judge to spare him the maximum sentence.

Cunningham, who resigned last year in disgrace after pleading guilty, was scheduled to be sentenced Friday for accepting $2.4 million from defense contractors and others in exchange for steering government contracts their way.

"I am ready to pay my debt to society," Cunningham wrote to U.S. District Judge Larry Burns last month. "With God's grace, I will accept your sentence without complaint."

Federal prosecutors have urged the judge to impose the maximum of 10 years in prison, the longest term ever for a congressman.

Defense attorneys have asked for a sentence of six years in prison for the 64-year-old former Navy "Top Gun" flight instructor and Vietnam War flying ace. Given Cunningham's age and history of prostate cancer, a 10-year sentence "would likely be a death sentence," they said.

"His own misconduct has already left him penniless, homeless, estranged from those he loves and disgraced in the eyes of his countrymen," Cunningham's lawyers wrote in a sentencing memorandum.

Prosecutors have also asked that Cunningham be ordered to pay nearly $1.6 million in taxes and forfeit his interest in a 7,628-square foot mansion he sold in December for $2.6 million.

The staggering details of Cunningham's wrongdoing surpass anything in the history of Congress, Senate and House historians said. His bribes included a Rolls-Royce, a yacht, homes, travel, meals, Persian rugs valued at $40,000 each and various antique furnishings.

"In the sheer dollar amount, he is the most corrupt," said Deputy House Historian Fred W. Beuttler. "The scale of it is unprecedented."

Cunningham pleaded guilty Nov. 28 to tax evasion and a conspiracy involving four others. Defense contractor Mitchell Wade pleaded guilty last month to plying Cunningham with more than $1 million in gifts over four years. The remaining three alleged coconspirators have been identified as Brent Wilkes, a San Diego defense contractor; New York businessman Thomas Kontogiannis and John T. Michael, Kontogiannis' nephew

Comments

Cunnigham confesses to being the "most corrupt" politican in the last couple fo centuries, and is asking for leniency from the court. That is the defintion of 14 karat chutzpah.

Posted by Peter Chewning at March 3, 2006 11:52 AM

The $2.4 million that he is convicted of accepting as bribes is just the tip of the iceberg. The bribers got almost $700 million that has been documented. Most of this was stolen from the Department of Defense for services that the DOD did not want, and could not use -- digitization of obsolete records that the military didn't care about.

How many soldiers and marines died because of the enormous amounts of money drained from the military budget? How many casualties were sustained because of substandard equipment and the lack of armor that were caused by Cunningham?

Life in jail would be more appropriate, though still inadequate.

Posted by m at March 3, 2006 01:10 PM

Cunningham has about as much character as a snake in the grass. The Republicans villified Clinton's character because of some stains on a dress between two consenting adults. Character is a spectrum or a continuum. No one has perfect character but to put yourself above others and claim you are the party of character and then pull off stuff like this and beg for mercy - its just pitiful, PITY FULL!

Posted by Andrew_GreenMountain_Man at March 3, 2006 02:21 PM

Cunningham, the most corrupt in history? How can he surpass DeLay? How can anyone come close to DeLay? It all hasn't come out yet, huh?

Posted by Kevin at March 3, 2006 02:47 PM

I think it is time that we all take a good look at this situation, and I hope that others will wake up.

Hal Turner at www.HalTurnerShow.com has some good ideas on how to deal with these "public servants".

WAKE UP WHITE AMERICA!!!!

Posted by bobediah bobson at March 3, 2006 02:50 PM

Sounds like bussiness as usual for this administration.

Posted by Tax Payer at March 3, 2006 02:50 PM

Been to DC lately? The whole damned town is corrupt. Except maybe for the street niggers, mostly crack heads who beg openly and honestly.

Probably the least corrupt member of congress is Ron Paul and, despite being a hero to deluded Libertarians, he ain't got too much smarts. Meaning well just doesn't cut it in evil town.

I've got good friends on Capitol Hill but the only quick solution to DC corruption is to nuke the place.

Posted by Tony B. at March 3, 2006 04:39 PM

If this was Mississippi or Louisana and Cunningham was black and he'd been caught stealing a loaf of bread to feed his starving displaced ( Katrinized) family the court would give him 20 yrs. on a road gang. This creep though will get 5 ys. in some country club for rethug crooks and then will be let out in 6 mos. because of his failing health. In 2 yrs. he will re-appear as a DC lobbyist doing the Ollie North circuit on Fox news and Talk radio screaming about how DC Liberals ruined his career.

Posted by glenn at March 3, 2006 04:51 PM

Cunningham begs for mercy

Comments

Post a comment