Congressman Cunningham admits taking bribes
{{date|November 28, 2005}}

[[Image:Randy-Cunningham-money.jpg|thumb|300px|Randy Cunningham (archive photo). Cunningham, center, presents a check of federal money to the San Diego Food Bank in May 2005.]]

U.S. Representative [[w:Randy Cunningham|Randy "Duke" Cunningham]] ([[w:Republican Party (United States)|R]]-[[w:California|CA]]) pled guilty today to conspiring to take bribes in exchange for using his influence as a member of the [[w:House Appropriations Committee|House Appropriations Committee]] to help a defense contractor get business. In total he pled guilty to one count of [[w:tax evasion|income tax evasion]] and four counts of conspiracy, namely [[w:mail fraud|mail fraud]], [[w:wire fraud|wire fraud]], [[w:bribery|bribery]] of public official and accepting bribes. U.S. District judge Larry A. Burns scheduled Cunnigham to be sentenced on February 27. He is facing up to 10 years in prison and nearly $500,000 in fines, as well as forfeiture of unspecified amounts of cash and property.

In the court hearing, Cunningham admitted to accepting "bribes in exchange for performance of official duties" between "the year 2000 and June of 2005", taking "both cash payments and payments in kind" and following up by "trying to influence the Defense Department".

The federal investigation against Cunningham was triggered by his sale of his California residence to defense contractor Mitchell Wade in late 2003. However, Wade never moved in and sold the house at a $700,000 loss three quarters of a year later. At the same time Wade's company MZM won tens of millions of dollars in defense contracts. Subsequent investigations discovered more questionable business transactions, including interactions with the defense contractor ADCS. In his plea agreement he testified that, among other charges, he "demanded, sought and received at least $2.4 million in illicit payments and benefits from his co-conspirators in various forms, including cash, checks, meals, travel, lodging, furnishings, antiques, rugs, yacht club fees, boat repairs and improvements, moving expenses, cars and boats."

Cunningham announced his resignation after the hearing. In a written statement released by his law firm O’Melveny & Myers LLP he declared "The truth is -- I broke the law, concealed my conduct, and disgraced my high office. I know that I will forfeit my freedom, my reputation, my worldly possessions, and most importantly, the trust of my friends and family."

== Related news ==
*{{wikinews|title=U.S. watchdog group lists "most corrupt members of Congress"|date=October 7, 2005 }}

== Sources ==
*{{source|url=http://www.signonsandiego.com/news/politics/cunningham/20051128-1149-bn28duke6.html

|title=Cunningham pleads guilty, resigns from Congress
|author=Gregory Alan Gross, Debbi Farr Baker and Karen Kucher
|pub=Union Tribune
|date=November 28, 2005}}

*{{source|url=http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-112805cunningham_lat,0,1187819.story?coll=la-home-headlines
|title=Rep. Randy 'Duke' Cunningham to Plead Guilty to Tax Violations
|author=Tony Perry
|pub=LA Times
|date=November 28, 2005}}

*{{source|url=http://www.usatoday.com/news/washington/2005-11-28-cunningham_x.htm
|title=Cunningham pleads guilty to conspiracy, tax evasion
|author=
|pub=USA Today
|date=November 28, 2005}}

*{{source|url=http://today.reuters.com/news/newsArticle.aspx?type=topNews&storyID=2005-11-28T194132Z_01_MOL866823_RTRUKOC_0_US-CRIME-CUNNINGHAM.xml&archived=False
|title=Cunningham resigns after bribery plea
|author=
|pub=Reuters
|date=November 28, 2005}}

*{{source|url=http://www.signonsandiego.com/news/politics/cunningham/images/051128cunningham_resign.pdf
|title=Statement By Randy “Duke” Cunningham
|author=O’Melveny & Myers LLP
|pub=Union Tribune
|date=November 28, 2005}}

*{{source|url=http://dukecunningham.org/bibliography/plea-agreement.html
|title=Plea Agreement
|author=U.S. Attorney
|pub=User:dananderson
|date=November 28, 2005}}

*{{source|url=http://movies.crooksandliars.com/TSR-Cunningham-c.mov
|title=Video Clip of Cunningham's Statement
|author={{w|CNN|nocat=1}}
|pub=Crooks and Liars
|date=November 28, 2005}}

{{Publish}}

{{archive}}
[[Category:United States]]
[[Category:Politics and conflicts]]
[[Category:Crime and law]]
[[Category:North America]]
Randy Cunningham (archive photo). Cunningham, center, presents a check of federal money to the San Diego Food Bank in May 2005.

U.S. Representative Randy "Duke" Cunningham (R-CA) pled guilty today to conspiring to take bribes in exchange for using his influence as a member of the House Appropriations Committee to help a defense contractor get business. In total he pled guilty to one count of income tax evasion and four counts of conspiracy, namely mail fraud, wire fraud, bribery of public official and accepting bribes. U.S. District judge Larry A. Burns scheduled Cunnigham to be sentenced on February 27. He is facing up to 10 years in prison and nearly $500,000 in fines, as well as forfeiture of unspecified amounts of cash and property.

In the court hearing, Cunningham admitted to accepting "bribes in exchange for performance of official duties" between "the year 2000 and June of 2005", taking "both cash payments and payments in kind" and following up by "trying to influence the Defense Department".

The federal investigation against Cunningham was triggered by his sale of his California residence to defense contractor Mitchell Wade in late 2003. However, Wade never moved in and sold the house at a $700,000 loss three quarters of a year later. At the same time Wade's company MZM won tens of millions of dollars in defense contracts. Subsequent investigations discovered more questionable business transactions, including interactions with the defense contractor ADCS. In his plea agreement he testified that, among other charges, he "demanded, sought and received at least $2.4 million in illicit payments and benefits from his co-conspirators in various forms, including cash, checks, meals, travel, lodging, furnishings, antiques, rugs, yacht club fees, boat repairs and improvements, moving expenses, cars and boats."

Cunningham announced his resignation after the hearing. In a written statement released by his law firm O’Melveny & Myers LLP he declared "The truth is -- I broke the law, concealed my conduct, and disgraced my high office. I know that I will forfeit my freedom, my reputation, my worldly possessions, and most importantly, the trust of my friends and family."


title=Cunningham pleads guilty, resigns from Congress

author=Gregory Alan Gross, Debbi Farr Baker and Karen Kucher

pub=Union Tribune

date=November 28, 2005}}

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United States Politics and conflicts Crime and law North America