Bye Bye CDR CrotchRocket or Duke takes a "cut pass" to a Taxi One
Randy "Duke" Cunningham, a Navy "ace" so close to being booted out of the Navy for being a piss-poor officer, before he shot down his last MiG is finally reaping the fruits of his own stupidity. Met Duke as a passing acquaintance when he was the (no shit) senior pilot in his squadron flying Phantooms off the Coral Maru. He was a legend in his own mind. A hell of a pilot though...unfortunately for him, being a hell of a stick is not always enough to build a successful Navy career on...
So now he's pleaded guilty to that crap from last summer...
Rep. Randy "Duke" Cunningham pleaded guilty Monday to conspiracy and tax charges and tearfully resigned from office, admitting he took $2.4 million in bribes to steer defense contracts to conspirators.
Cunningham, 63, entered pleas in U.S. District Court to charges of conspiracy to commit bribery, mail fraud and wire fraud, and tax evasion for underreporting his income in 2004.
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 official duties.
Later, at a news conference, he wiped away tears as he announced his resignation.
...
After the hearing, Cunningham was taken away for fingerprinting and released on his own recognizance until a Feb. 27 sentencing hearing. He could receive up to 10 years in prison.
He also agreed to forfeit to the government his Rancho Santa Fe home, more than $1.8 million in cash and antiques and rugs.
In a statement, prosecutors said Cunningham admitted to receiving at least $2.4 million in bribes paid to him by several conspirators through a variety of methods, including checks totaling over $1 million, cash, rugs, antiques, furniture, yacht club fees and vacations.
I'd be in a more celebratory mood about this one, but Duke was never the sharpest tool in the shed. He wasn't even a really nice guy...he just cut a swath with all his bullshit and bravado, and hoped to coast on his rep for life, without ever accomplishing anything meaningful.
I guess you can say this about Duke ... he'll probably be "born yet again" in prison, and have a felony conviction in common with his son...
In Boston,Todd Cunningham, 29, the son of U.S. Rep. Randy "Duke" Cunningham (R-CA),
was sentenced on November 17 to 2-1/2 years in federal prison for marijuana smuggling. Rep.
Cunningham, who has supported the death penalty for drug traffickers, made a tearful plea to
U.S.Judge Reginald C. Lindsay for leniency for his son. Prosecutors supported the sentence, which is
half the mandatory five year term for such an offense, because Cunningham provided information about
other offenders involved in the smuggling operation. It was Cunningham's first conviction. (Bill Murphy,
"Son of lawmaker sentenced to prison," San Diego Union Tribune, November 18, 1998.)
I guess felony convictions are the only ones that run deep in la famiglia Cunningham...
At least he's got his Navy Pension...
posted by Jo Fish on 11.28.05 at 04:18 PM
Comments:
He probably will get his congressional pension, too. I doubt that any of his co-workers think he did anything wrong.
I thought military pensions were revoked upon conviction of a federal crime. I was under the impression from what they told us in Senior TAP class that our Navy pension was contingent upon adherence to the UCMJ. I could be wrong.
posted by: Route66Kid on 11.28.05 at 08:42 PM [permalink]
My old CO was a squadron-mate of Duke's. He shared your low opinion of him - apparently, he would bring a spare hat and set of keys to the office as a prop. He'd cut out early to go golfing (or whatever), and leave the hat and keys on his desk to make it seem like he was still somewhere in the building. Real work ethic, there.
The double edges knife of justice cuts to the quick once again.
Great efforts, Mr.Fish.
The MZM-CIFA connection is all over the net now. Those goons just lact the tact necessary to run anything right.
Must be the fact that they do not use a merit based approach.
posted by: Mr.Murder on 11.29.05 at 04:45 AM [permalink]
Duke had to be just about the nastiest wingnut in Congress. He once said that his fellow Dems in Congress should be lined up and shot. And a stupid SOB to boot. Did he actually think he would get away with all this?
posted by: rightfielder on 11.29.05 at 09:28 AM [permalink]
I felt sorry for Duke when he started to sob yesterday -- then about 3 seconds later, it went away. Boo fuckin' hoo, pal. You wanna "pay the price"? Give up that money!
Guess his son's lawyers gotta get paid, too, though, somehow.
Actually, Jo, with a felony conviction, he's eligible to lose his pension.
I posted on this story over at PS, and didn't get into the details of Duke's "distinguished" naval career. But as an old "Fighter Town" type, I'd say you pretty much pegged it.
