According to Congressional Quarterly:
MONDAY, NOV. 28, 2005 – 2:16 P.M.
Rep. Randy “Duke� Cunningham, R-Calif., pleaded guilty today to federal charges of conspiring to take bribes from a defense contractor.
Appearing in U.S. District Court in San Diego, the eight-term congressman also pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit mail fraud and one count of tax evasion. Sentencing was set for Feb. 27.
The charges involved Cunningham’s dealings with Mitchell Wade of MZM Inc., a defense contractor based in Washington, whom he helped to win government contracts. Wade purchased Cunningham’s Del Mar, Calif., home two years ago for an apparently inflated price, selling it at a loss less than nine months later.
According to the Associated Press, Cunningham answered “yes, your honor� when asked by U.S. District Judge Larry Burns if he had accepted bribes from someone in exchange for his performance of favors as a member of Congress.
Even though Cunningham in July announced he would not seek for re-election next year, his conviction could prompt his resignation. He scheduled a news conference for later this afternoon, but his office refused to comment on the topic.
Here is the AP/NY Times
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UPDATE: He has resigned:
SAN DIEGO — Rep. Randy “Duke” Cunningham resigned his office today after pleading guilty to fraud, conspiracy to commit bribery and tax evasion in a political corruption case.
U.S. District Judge Larry Burns accepted the pleas from Cunningham, 63, including the congressman’s admission in federal court that he had accepted bribes in exchange for performance of his official duties.
“I misled my friends, family and myself. The truth is, I broke the law and disgraced my office and myself,” Cunningham said after his plea, breaking into tears at a news conference.
“I know I will have to forfeit my freedom…. In my life I have great joy and great sorrow, and now I know great shame,” said Cunningham, a Vietnam War flying ace who won the Navy Cross.
Cunningham pledged to make amends. He said he admitted his fault, apologized and asked for “God’s grace” as he moves forward.
UPDATE II: The San Diego Union-Tribune offers this timeline on Cunninham. He isn’t in TMV’s district here in San Diego. TMV reads this bio and says “Hmmmmmm…..”
Joe Gandelman is a former fulltime journalist who freelanced in India, Spain, Bangladesh and Cypress writing for publications such as the Christian Science Monitor and Newsweek. He also did radio reports from Madrid for NPR’s All Things Considered. He has worked on two U.S. newspapers and quit the news biz in 1990 to go into entertainment. He also has written for The Week and several online publications, did a column for Cagle Cartoons Syndicate and has appeared on CNN.