Maximum Sentence Urged for Cunningham

[Judi Lynn]

Maximum Sentence Urged for Cunningham
But Defense Cites War Heroics and Depression in Seeking Reduced Term

By Charles R. Babcock and Walter Pincus
Washington Post Staff Writers
Thursday, March 2, 2006; Page A08

Former congressman Randy "Duke" Cunningham (R-Calif.) "bullied and hectored" Defense Department officials to ensure that two contractors who were bribing him "received their pound of gold" and profits of up to 850 percent, federal prosecutors contend in a new court filing that urges a federal judge to give Cunningham a maximum 10 years in prison when he is sentenced tomorrow.

But defense attorneys countered in court documents that Cunningham, 64, is depressed and suicidal and should receive a six-year term, in recognition of his service as a Navy pilot who once shot down three enemy planes over North Vietnam in a single day.

Cunningham resigned from the House after pleading guilty in November to tax evasion and conspiracy to take $2.4 million in bribes from two defense contractors and two New York businessmen in return for setting aside, or earmarking, federal money for them in spending bills. Mitchell J. Wade, one of the contractors, pleaded guilty last Friday to four felony counts for his part in the scheme.

In arguing for the maximum prison term, prosecutors in San Diego filed e-mails, memorandums and grand jury testimony late Tuesday to demonstrate that Cunningham's crimes cost the government millions of dollars because the contractors overcharged for equipment and services.
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http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/03/01/AR2006030102201.html



Aerial view of Duke Cunningham's home.



18 Candidates Vie For Cunningham's Seat
Special Election Held April 11

POSTED: 6:51 am PST February 28, 2006
UPDATED: 7:00 am PST February 28, 2006

SAN DIEGO -- The race to finish Randy "Duke" Cunningham's term representing the 50th Congressional District has officially come down to 18 candidates.

Fourteen Republicans, two Democrats, one Libertarian and one independent will appear together on a special election ballot April 11. The deadline to register, including turning in 40 nominating signatures per candidate, was 5 p.m. Monday.

Cunningham resigned in disgrace last year after admitting to taking $2.4 million in bribes. The term runs through Jan. 3.

There is no primary, meaning voters will choose from the full slate of candidates, regardless of political party. If no candidate receives more than 50 percent of the votes cast in April, a runoff would be held among the top vote-getters of each party June 6, the day of the statewide primary election.
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http://www.10news.com/politics/7539107/detail.html