Cunningham faces record sentence
Former congressman admitted taking $2.4 million in bribes
Friday, March 3, 2006; Posted: 4:34 p.m. EST (21:34 GMT)
SAN DIEGO, California (AP) -- Prosecutors hoped to secure the longest prison term ever for a congressman Friday at the sentencing of former Rep. Randy "Duke" Cunningham.
Cunningham has pleaded guilty to taking bribes on a scale unparalleled in the history of Congress.
A Republican who resigned last year in disgrace, Cunningham accepted $2.4 million from defense contractors and others in exchange for steering government contracts their way.
Prosecutors asked for the maximum -- 10 years behind bars. The longest term ever meted out to a congressman was the eight years former Rep. James Traficant, an Ohio Democrat, received in 2002 for taking payoffs.
Cunningham's attorneys asked for six years for the 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," Cunningham's lawyers wrote in a sentencing memorandum.
"His own misconduct has already left him penniless, homeless, estranged from those he loves and disgraced in the eyes of his countrymen," they wrote.
The 64-year-old Cunningham wrote to U.S. District Judge Larry Burns last month that in any case he was "ready to pay my debt to society."
"With God's grace, I will accept your sentence without complaint," he wrote.
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, $40,000 Persian rugs and 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 November 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.
http://www.cnn.com/2006/LAW/03/03/cunni ... index.html
