±Recent Visitors

Recent Visitors to Com-Central!

±User Info-big


Welcome Anonymous

Nickname
Password

Membership:
Latest: HighestAce
New Today: 0
New Yesterday: 0
Overall: 6648

People Online:
Members: 0
Visitors: 883
Total: 883
Who Is Where:
 Visitors:
01: Home
02: Community Forums
03: Home
04: News Archive
05: Community Forums
06: Home
07: News Archive
08: Community Forums
09: Community Forums
10: Community Forums
11: Community Forums
12: Home
13: Community Forums
14: Home
15: Community Forums
16: Home
17: Member Screenshots
18: Contact
19: Community Forums
20: Photo Gallery
21: Statistics
22: News Archive
23: Community Forums
24: Community Forums
25: Community Forums
26: News
27: Photo Gallery
28: Community Forums
29: Member Screenshots
30: Community Forums
31: News
32: Community Forums
33: Community Forums
34: Photo Gallery
35: Home
36: Community Forums
37: Downloads
38: Supporters
39: Photo Gallery
40: Community Forums
41: Community Forums
42: Community Forums
43: Photo Gallery
44: Home
45: Community Forums
46: Home
47: Community Forums
48: Home
49: Community Forums
50: Community Forums
51: Community Forums
52: Photo Gallery
53: Community Forums
54: Downloads
55: Home
56: Home
57: Photo Gallery
58: News Archive
59: Home
60: Home
61: Community Forums
62: Downloads
63: Community Forums
64: Photo Gallery
65: Community Forums
66: Community Forums
67: Community Forums
68: Home
69: Home
70: Community Forums
71: Home
72: Community Forums
73: Community Forums
74: Home
75: Community Forums
76: Community Forums
77: Member Screenshots
78: Community Forums
79: Home
80: Community Forums
81: Community Forums
82: Community Forums
83: Photo Gallery
84: Home
85: Downloads
86: News Archive
87: Your Account
88: Member Screenshots
89: Photo Gallery
90: Home
91: Photo Gallery
92: Home
93: Community Forums
94: Home
95: Photo Gallery
96: Home
97: Community Forums
98: Home
99: Member Screenshots
100: Community Forums
101: Tell a Friend
102: Community Forums
103: Your Account
104: Photo Gallery
105: Home
106: Community Forums
107: Community Forums
108: Home
109: Community Forums
110: Your Account
111: Community Forums
112: Community Forums
113: Member Screenshots
114: Home
115: Photo Gallery
116: Downloads
117: Home
118: Home
119: Photo Gallery
120: Community Forums
121: Downloads
122: Photo Gallery
123: Community Forums
124: Photo Gallery
125: News
126: Photo Gallery
127: Photo Gallery
128: Home
129: Community Forums
130: News Archive
131: Photo Gallery
132: Downloads
133: Home
134: Home
135: Photo Gallery
136: Home
137: Photo Gallery
138: Downloads
139: Photo Gallery
140: Community Forums
141: Community Forums
142: Tell a Friend
143: Community Forums
144: Photo Gallery
145: Community Forums
146: Home
147: Community Forums
148: Community Forums
149: Community Forums
150: Community Forums
151: News
152: Photo Gallery
153: Community Forums
154: Home
155: Home
156: Home
157: Home
158: Community Forums
159: Community Forums
160: Community Forums
161: Home
162: Community Forums
163: Photo Gallery
164: Photo Gallery
165: Community Forums
166: Community Forums
167: Home
168: Search
169: Photo Gallery
170: Photo Gallery
171: Home
172: Member Screenshots
173: Member Screenshots
174: Community Forums
175: Home
176: News
177: Community Forums
178: Community Forums
179: Photo Gallery
180: Community Forums
181: Home
182: Community Forums
183: Community Forums
184: Member Screenshots
185: Downloads
186: Your Account
187: Member Screenshots
188: News Archive
189: Member Screenshots
190: Community Forums
191: Community Forums
192: Photo Gallery
193: Your Account
194: Photo Gallery
195: Photo Gallery
196: Member Screenshots
197: Home
198: Community Forums
199: Community Forums
200: Home
201: Community Forums
202: Member Screenshots
203: Home
204: Downloads
205: Member Screenshots
206: Community Forums
207: Community Forums
208: Community Forums
209: Community Forums
210: News Archive
211: Home
212: Community Forums
213: Community Forums
214: Community Forums
215: Community Forums
216: Home
217: Community Forums
218: Downloads
219: News Archive
220: Community Forums
221: Community Forums
222: Downloads
223: Community Forums
224: Community Forums
225: Community Forums
226: Home
227: Community Forums
228: Member Screenshots
229: Photo Gallery
230: Photo Gallery
231: Community Forums
232: Community Forums
233: Photo Gallery
234: Community Forums
235: Community Forums
236: Downloads
237: Photo Gallery
238: Home
239: Member Screenshots
240: Home
241: Photo Gallery
242: Photo Gallery
243: Home
244: Community Forums
245: Community Forums
246: Home
247: Member Screenshots
248: Home
249: News Archive
250: Member Screenshots
251: Photo Gallery
252: News Archive
253: Community Forums
254: Home
255: Member Screenshots
256: Photo Gallery
257: Member Screenshots
258: Community Forums
259: Community Forums
260: Member Screenshots
261: Community Forums
262: Community Forums
263: Community Forums
264: Community Forums
265: Community Forums
266: Member Screenshots
267: Community Forums
268: Community Forums
269: Community Forums
270: Community Forums
271: Community Forums
272: Community Forums
273: Community Forums
274: Community Forums
275: Home
276: Photo Gallery
277: Photo Gallery
278: Community Forums
279: Community Forums
280: Community Forums
281: Home
282: Community Forums
283: Member Screenshots
284: Community Forums
285: Community Forums
286: Community Forums
287: Community Forums
288: Community Forums
289: Community Forums
290: Community Forums
291: News Archive
292: Photo Gallery
293: Home
294: Member Screenshots
295: Community Forums
296: Community Forums
297: Your Account
298: Downloads
299: Member Screenshots
300: News Archive
301: Photo Gallery
302: Community Forums
303: Downloads
304: Community Forums
305: Photo Gallery
306: Community Forums
307: Community Forums
308: News Archive
309: Community Forums
310: Photo Gallery
311: Community Forums
312: Community Forums
313: Community Forums
314: Community Forums
315: Community Forums
316: News Archive
317: Community Forums
318: Home
319: Home
320: Community Forums
321: Community Forums
322: Member Screenshots
323: Member Screenshots
324: Community Forums
325: News Archive
326: Community Forums
327: Community Forums
328: Community Forums
329: Statistics
330: Community Forums
331: Home
332: Community Forums
333: Downloads
334: Community Forums
335: Community Forums
336: Community Forums
337: News Archive
338: Member Screenshots
339: Community Forums
340: Member Screenshots
341: Home
342: Community Forums
343: Member Screenshots
344: Community Forums
345: Community Forums
346: Community Forums
347: Member Screenshots
348: Community Forums
349: Member Screenshots
350: Community Forums
351: Community Forums
352: Community Forums
353: Downloads
354: Home
355: Member Screenshots
356: Community Forums
357: Member Screenshots
358: Community Forums
359: Community Forums
360: Downloads
361: Community Forums
362: Community Forums
363: Community Forums
364: Community Forums
365: Community Forums
366: Photo Gallery
367: Member Screenshots
368: Community Forums
369: Community Forums
370: Community Forums
371: Community Forums
372: Community Forums
373: News
374: Community Forums
375: News Archive
376: Community Forums
377: Community Forums
378: Member Screenshots
379: Community Forums
380: Community Forums
381: Community Forums
382: Home
383: Community Forums
384: Downloads
385: Community Forums
386: Community Forums
387: Community Forums
388: Community Forums
389: Photo Gallery
390: Community Forums
391: Photo Gallery
392: Community Forums
393: Photo Gallery
394: Photo Gallery
395: Community Forums
396: Community Forums
397: Community Forums
398: Home
399: Statistics
400: Community Forums
401: News Archive
402: Community Forums
403: Downloads
404: Community Forums
405: Downloads
406: Community Forums
407: Community Forums
408: Photo Gallery
409: Community Forums
410: Community Forums
411: Community Forums
412: Community Forums
413: Community Forums
414: Member Screenshots
415: Community Forums
416: Community Forums
417: News
418: Tell a Friend
419: Photo Gallery
420: Community Forums
421: Community Forums
422: Member Screenshots
423: Home
424: Member Screenshots
425: Photo Gallery
426: Home
427: Community Forums
428: News Archive
429: Community Forums
430: Community Forums
431: Community Forums
432: Statistics
433: Contact
434: Photo Gallery
435: Community Forums
436: Community Forums
437: Home
438: Home
439: Community Forums
440: Home
441: Community Forums
442: Photo Gallery
443: Member Screenshots
444: Community Forums
445: Member Screenshots
446: Home
447: Member Screenshots
448: Community Forums
449: Community Forums
450: Community Forums
451: Community Forums
452: Community Forums
453: Home
454: Photo Gallery
455: Community Forums
456: Community Forums
457: Photo Gallery
458: Community Forums
459: News
460: Community Forums
461: Community Forums
462: News Archive
463: Downloads
464: Photo Gallery
465: Member Screenshots
466: Community Forums
467: Photo Gallery
468: Member Screenshots
469: Community Forums
470: News Archive
471: Community Forums
472: News Archive
473: Home
474: Home
475: Photo Gallery
476: Downloads
477: Member Screenshots
478: Home
479: Community Forums
480: Community Forums
481: Home
482: News Archive
483: Home
484: News
485: Home
486: Member Screenshots
487: Community Forums
488: Community Forums
489: Community Forums
490: Your Account
491: Community Forums
492: Downloads
493: Home
494: Community Forums
495: Community Forums
496: Community Forums
497: News Archive
498: Community Forums
499: Photo Gallery
500: Photo Gallery
501: Community Forums
502: Downloads
503: Community Forums
504: Community Forums
505: Community Forums
506: Home
507: Community Forums
508: Home
509: Community Forums
510: Photo Gallery
511: Home
512: Community Forums
513: Contact
514: Home
515: Search
516: Community Forums
517: Photo Gallery
518: Photo Gallery
519: Member Screenshots
520: Community Forums
521: News Archive
522: Member Screenshots
523: Community Forums
524: Community Forums
525: Community Forums
526: Community Forums
527: Home
528: Downloads
529: Home
530: Home
531: Community Forums
532: Photo Gallery
533: News Archive
534: Community Forums
535: Home
536: Community Forums
537: Treasury
538: Photo Gallery
539: Home
540: Community Forums
541: Home
542: News Archive
543: Community Forums
544: Home
545: Home
546: Home
547: Member Screenshots
548: Community Forums
549: Community Forums
550: News Archive
551: Home
552: Home
553: Home
554: Community Forums
555: Member Screenshots
556: Community Forums
557: Community Forums
558: News Archive
559: Community Forums
560: Home
561: Photo Gallery
562: Downloads
563: Community Forums
564: Photo Gallery
565: Community Forums
566: Home
567: Community Forums
568: Community Forums
569: Home
570: Treasury
571: Community Forums
572: Home
573: Community Forums
574: Photo Gallery
575: Home
576: Community Forums
577: Home
578: Home
579: Photo Gallery
580: Photo Gallery
581: Community Forums
582: Home
583: Community Forums
584: Tell a Friend
585: Photo Gallery
586: Member Screenshots
587: Home
588: Home
589: Photo Gallery
590: Member Screenshots
591: Downloads
592: Downloads
593: Downloads
594: Photo Gallery
595: Community Forums
596: Community Forums
597: Home
598: Home
599: Home
600: Member Screenshots
601: Downloads
602: Home
603: Community Forums
604: Photo Gallery
605: Member Screenshots
606: Community Forums
607: Downloads
608: Member Screenshots
609: Photo Gallery
610: News Archive
611: Photo Gallery
612: Home
613: Community Forums
614: Home
615: Community Forums
616: Community Forums
617: Community Forums
618: Community Forums
619: Community Forums
620: Home
621: Home
622: Member Screenshots
623: Member Screenshots
624: Community Forums
625: Downloads
626: Home
627: Community Forums
628: Community Forums
629: Home
630: News Archive
631: Community Forums
632: Community Forums
633: Member Screenshots
634: Home
635: News Archive
636: Member Screenshots
637: Downloads
638: Community Forums
639: Community Forums
640: Community Forums
641: Member Screenshots
642: Community Forums
643: Downloads
644: Community Forums
645: Member Screenshots
646: Home
647: Community Forums
648: Downloads
649: Photo Gallery
650: Community Forums
651: Community Forums
652: Member Screenshots
653: Home
654: News Archive
655: News Archive
656: Community Forums
657: Community Forums
658: Community Forums
659: Community Forums
660: Community Forums
661: Community Forums
662: Community Forums
663: Downloads
664: Community Forums
665: Home
666: Photo Gallery
667: Community Forums
668: Photo Gallery
669: Member Screenshots
670: Community Forums
671: Community Forums
672: Photo Gallery
673: Member Screenshots
674: Member Screenshots
675: Community Forums
676: Home
677: Member Screenshots
678: Community Forums
679: Community Forums
680: Your Account
681: Community Forums
682: Community Forums
683: Photo Gallery
684: Community Forums
685: Community Forums
686: Home
687: Member Screenshots
688: Community Forums
689: Community Forums
690: Community Forums
691: Community Forums
692: News Archive
693: Community Forums
694: Photo Gallery
695: Community Forums
696: Community Forums
697: Community Forums
698: Home
699: News Archive
700: Photo Gallery
701: Community Forums
702: Home
703: Photo Gallery
704: News Archive
705: Community Forums
706: Community Forums
707: Community Forums
708: Community Forums
709: Community Forums
710: Community Forums
711: Photo Gallery
712: Community Forums
713: Home
714: Community Forums
715: Community Forums
716: Statistics
717: Community Forums
718: News Archive
719: Photo Gallery
720: Member Screenshots
721: Community Forums
722: Photo Gallery
723: Community Forums
724: Your Account
725: Home
726: Search
727: Member Screenshots
728: Member Screenshots
729: Community Forums
730: News Archive
731: Member Screenshots
732: Community Forums
733: News Archive
734: Member Screenshots
735: Community Forums
736: Home
737: Member Screenshots
738: Photo Gallery
739: Community Forums
740: Downloads
741: Community Forums
742: Home
743: Member Screenshots
744: Community Forums
745: Community Forums
746: Search
747: Community Forums
748: Community Forums
749: Photo Gallery
750: Community Forums
751: Community Forums
752: Member Screenshots
753: Photo Gallery
754: Community Forums
755: Community Forums
756: Photo Gallery
757: Community Forums
758: News Archive
759: Home
760: Downloads
761: Community Forums
762: Community Forums
763: Community Forums
764: Community Forums
765: Community Forums
766: Community Forums
767: Community Forums
768: Community Forums
769: Home
770: News Archive
771: Photo Gallery
772: Community Forums
773: Photo Gallery
774: Community Forums
775: Home
776: Community Forums
777: Community Forums
778: Community Forums
779: Member Screenshots
780: Community Forums
781: Community Forums
782: Community Forums
783: Community Forums
784: News
785: Community Forums
786: Community Forums
787: Community Forums
788: News Archive
789: Home
790: Photo Gallery
791: Community Forums
792: Community Forums
793: News Archive
794: News Archive
795: Community Forums
796: Community Forums
797: Community Forums
798: Community Forums
799: Member Screenshots
800: Statistics
801: Community Forums
802: Community Forums
803: Community Forums
804: Community Forums
805: Community Forums
806: Community Forums
807: Community Forums
808: Photo Gallery
809: Community Forums
810: Photo Gallery
811: Home
812: Member Screenshots
813: Community Forums
814: Home
815: Home
816: Member Screenshots
817: Community Forums
818: Community Forums
819: Community Forums
820: Community Forums
821: Photo Gallery
822: Member Screenshots
823: Community Forums
824: Community Forums
825: Community Forums
826: Home
827: Community Forums
828: Photo Gallery
829: Community Forums
830: Home
831: Home
832: Photo Gallery
833: Member Screenshots
834: Community Forums
835: Photo Gallery
836: Home
837: Photo Gallery
838: Home
839: Community Forums
840: Community Forums
841: News Archive
842: Your Account
843: Community Forums
844: Community Forums
845: Home
846: Community Forums
847: Downloads
848: Community Forums
849: Community Forums
850: News Archive
851: Community Forums
852: Community Forums
853: Community Forums
854: Downloads
855: Photo Gallery
856: Home
857: Home
858: Home
859: News Archive
860: Home
861: Community Forums
862: Community Forums
863: Member Screenshots
864: Community Forums
865: Photo Gallery
866: Community Forums
867: Community Forums
868: News Archive
869: Home
870: Community Forums
871: Home
872: Member Screenshots
873: Community Forums
874: Photo Gallery
875: Community Forums
876: Community Forums
877: Member Screenshots
878: Community Forums
879: Community Forums
880: News
881: Community Forums
882: Home
883: Community Forums

Staff Online:

No staff members are online!
VN ace gets splashed..... :: Archived
A general meeting place for all pilots!
Go to page 1, 2  Next
Post new topic    Revive this topic    Printer Friendly Page     Forum Index ›  Officer's Club

Topic Archived View previous topic :: View next topic  
Author Message
JG300-Ascout
Power User

Offline Offline
Joined: Jan 05, 2005
Posts: 6257
Location: Cyberspace
PostPosted: Mon Nov 28, 2005 2:06 pm
Post subject: VN ace gets splashed.....

Randy Cunningham (congressmen for my district) pleads guilty to a host of conspiracy and fraud charges, acknowledges accepting bribes for official duties.

Someone at work said they thought he'd always been a "straight shooter"....well, not always, it seems.

I don't think he'll be getting the Martha Stewart deal, neither.

Good riddance.

_________________
"All facts go to clearly prove that Shades is a thrice-cursed traitor & mentally deranged person steeped in inveterate enmity toward mankind"
Back to top
View user's profile Photo Gallery
JG300-Stoopy
Power User

Offline Offline
Joined: Jan 05, 2005
Posts: 5840
Location: Group W bench
PostPosted: Mon Nov 28, 2005 2:28 pm
Post subject: Re: VN ace gets splashed.....

WHAT?!?!??!!!!!!!

You have GOT to be kidding me!!!!!! Seriously?????

I have his book. Read it several times. I admired this guy as a great pilot and scholar of dogfighting history. Truly. I mean he spent his time reading suposedly outdated books like "Dicta Boelke" and proved the old rules are still as viable as ever.

I really didn't even know he was involved in politics......I find this just, well, just unbelievably sad and pathetic. I just can't quite process this information.

I can see his face right now from some of his interviews. Not only was he the only other ace of the Vietnam war, he was the only NAVAL aviator ace, and one of his dogfights (the most dramatic one I believe) ended with half a wing of his F-4 being blown off by a SAM, and both he and his RIO Willie Driscoll (have that name memorized too) decided to ride it out so they could get out of enemy territory, with the plane on fire, and in a constant uncontrollable roll, while Cunningham applied synchronized forward and back elevator to keep the plane on a straight trajectory to the coast for like 20 miles or more.....whereupon they barely managed to eject in time before their flaming Phantom blew up, and they hit the water just off the beach. Not sure but I think the NVA even had a boat on the way towards them when they got picked up.

This is the guy invovled in politics and graft now huh?

What a frikkin' day I swear!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!......

Wonder what Sen. McCain has to say about this.

_________________
"Once your reputation is ruined, you can live quite freely."
Back to top
View user's profile Visit poster's website Photo Gallery
JG300-Ascout
Power User

Offline Offline
Joined: Jan 05, 2005
Posts: 6257
Location: Cyberspace
PostPosted: Mon Nov 28, 2005 2:38 pm
Post subject: Re: VN ace gets splashed.....

He'd been under investigation for months, FBI raided his home (the current one...not the one he sold to a defense contractor for about a million and a half dollars that resold for HALF that!)

He was deep in bed with a primary defense contracter, provided tangible favors for his congressional influence, and accepted bribes (and said as much, in a tearful guilty plea today).

It's hard to imagine how such an accomplished vet and pilot could become so totally corrupted...which he definitely was, by his own admission. He's trying to duck jail time, but I don't see how that's gonna' be possible given that he was an elected official and pled to several federal felony charges.

_________________
"All facts go to clearly prove that Shades is a thrice-cursed traitor & mentally deranged person steeped in inveterate enmity toward mankind"
Back to top
View user's profile Photo Gallery
Guest






PostPosted: Mon Nov 28, 2005 2:47 pm
Post subject: Re: VN ace gets splashed.....

I remember now, hearing about a story regarding a house sold by a gov't official under questionable circumstances, but didn't put the name to it before. Hmmm.

Wonder what defense contractor it was? Half-joking here but I wonder if it was McDonnell-Douglas (they even still around as such?). I mean, it's not hard to imagine some kind of odd misplaced loyalty to the company that built a plane that saved his @ss and made his career.

Speaking of which he ducked out of jail time in the Hanoi Hilton by sheer luck and skill anyway, so watever jail time he has coming isn't as bad as what some of his fellow pilots, like the aforementioned Sen McCain, had to go through. It may not be the Martha Stewart deal but I doubt it'll be hard time making little rocks out of big rocks either. It'll be some Tennis Prison out there somewhere probably....

Absolutely too damn bad he didn't appreciate what he had to begin with.
Back to top
Guest






PostPosted: Mon Nov 28, 2005 2:49 pm
Post subject: Re: VN ace gets splashed.....

- JG300-Ascout
He'd been under investigation for months, FBI raided his home (the current one...not the one he sold to a defense contractor for about a million and a half dollars that resold for HALF that!)

He was deep in bed with a primary defense contracter, provided tangible favors for his congressional influence, and accepted bribes (and said as much, in a tearful guilty plea today).

It's hard to imagine how such an accomplished vet and pilot could become so totally corrupted...which he definitely was, by his own admission. He's trying to duck jail time, but I don't see how that's gonna' be possible given that he was an elected official and pled to several federal felony charges.


Well It smarts when it's a Vet, but politicians are politicians first and it's all about who's greased palm is on.................................well since this isn't Kitty's bar.....................you know.
Back to top
JG300-fr8ycat
Power User

Offline Offline
Joined: Mar 13, 2005
Posts: 1528
Location: Los Angeles
PostPosted: Mon Nov 28, 2005 2:51 pm
Post subject: Re: VN ace gets splashed.....

OOPPSSS, that's me. The second Guest, LOL
Back to top
View user's profile MSN Messenger Photo Gallery
JG300-Ascout
Power User

Offline Offline
Joined: Jan 05, 2005
Posts: 6257
Location: Cyberspace
PostPosted: Mon Nov 28, 2005 2:55 pm
Post subject: Re: VN ace gets splashed.....

- Anonymous
I remember now, hearing about a story regarding a house sold by a gov't official under questionable circumstances, but didn't put the name to it before. Hmmm.

Wonder what defense contractor it was? Half-joking here but I wonder if it was McDonnell-Douglas (they even still around as such?). I mean, it's not hard to imagine some kind of odd misplaced loyalty to the company that built a plane that saved his @ss and made his career.

Speaking of which he ducked out of jail time in the Hanoi Hilton by sheer luck and skill anyway, so watever jail time he has coming isn't as bad as what some of his fellow pilots, like the aforementioned Sen McCain, had to go through. It may not be the Martha Stewart deal but I doubt it'll be hard time making little rocks out of big rocks either. It'll be some Tennis Prison out there somewhere probably....

Absolutely too damn bad he didn't appreciate what he had to begin with.


Here's the story:
www.foxnews.com/story/...85,00.html

The main contractor (there was more than one) was MZM. Just go on Foxnews, or CNN. or MSN for the story. It muddled along on simmer until this summer when the San Diego paper did an in-depth story on it. He was neck deep in graft of the most transparent kind. Lived on a yacht in Chesapeke Bay virtually rent free, accepted bribes, lied big time on taxes, got favored loans, and sold a house DIRECT to a contractor for twice it's actual value. This has been a much followed story locally.

Oh, he of course resigned his U.S. HOR seat concurrent with his guilty plea.

Cunningham Pleads Guilty in House Sale Probe
Monday, November 28, 2005

PHOTOS VIDEO

Click image to enlarge
STORIES
•Cunningham Gets to Set Up Legal Defense Fund•Feds May Seize California Lawmaker's Home•Cunningham Falls to Typical Enticements•Cunningham Won't Seek Re-Election•Court: Convict's Firm Aided Rep. Cunningham•Cunningham Web Site Down•FBI Searches Calif. Congressman's Home•Grand Jury Wants Papers on Cunningham Real Estate Deal•Calif. Pol: Home Sale Was 'Poor Judgment'•Feds Probe Calif. Pol Over Real Estate Deal
SAN DIEGO � Rep. Randy "Duke" Cunningham resigned from Congress Monday after pleading guilty in a San Diego federal court to accepting bribes and violating tax laws in the sale of his home two years ago to a defense contractor.

Cunningham entered pleas in U.S. District Court to charges of conspiracy to commit mail fraud and wire fraud and tax evasion for underreporting his income in 2004. He answered, "Yes, Your Honor" when asked by U.S. District Judge Larry Burns if he had accepted cash in exchange for his performance of official duties.

Click here to read Rep. Cunningham's plea (pdf)

In a tearful apology, the 63-year-old Republican lawmaker said because he was "not strong enough," he disgraced his family and his congressional seat.

"I will forfeit my freedom, my reputation, all my worldly possessions and most importantly the trust of my friends and family," Cunningham said in a brief statement in which he announced that he will continue to cooperate with the government's ongoing investigation.

"In my life, I have known great joy and great sorrow and now I know great shame. I can't undo what I've done but I can atone. And now ... I enter the twilight of my life. I intend to use the remaining time that God grants me to make amends and I will," he said.



After the hearing, Cunningham was taken away for fingerprinting. He will be released on his own recognizance until a Feb. 27 sentencing hearing. He could receive a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison. The disgraced congressman also agreed to forfeit to the government his Rancho Santa Fe home, more than $1.8 million in cash and antiques and rugs.

House Ethics rules say that any lawmaker convicted of a felony no longer should vote or participate in committee work. Under Republican caucus rules, Cunningham also would lose his chairmanship of the House Intelligence subcommittee on terrorism and human intelligence.

In announcing the plea, prosecutors in San Diego said over four years, Cunningham accepted bribes worth $2.4 million in return for special treatment and government defense contracts worth tens of millions of dollars.

It is "clear from the facts that this was a crime of magnificent and extraordinary audacity," said U.S. Attorney Carol Lam.

The case started earlier this year when Cunningham and his wife, Nancy, were accused of using the proceeds from the $1,675,000 sale of his home in Del Mar home to buy a $2.55 million mansion in ritzy Rancho Santa Fe. Cunningham then had the capital gains tax on the property paid by his conspirators.

Though no others were named, in prior reporting, defense contractor Mitchell Wade was said to have bought the Del Mar, and then sold it nearly a year later for a loss of $700,000.

Lam said Cunningham also was given money for a yacht, a party for his daughter's graduation, rugs, antiques, furniture and a Rolls Royce as well as travel expenses for his wife and a payment of more than $1 million to pay the mortgage in the Rancho Sante Fe home.

At the same time Cunningham was getting the cash, he reported $121,079 in income on his 2004 IRS return. He claimed he was due a refund $8,504. The real amount earned and was more than $1.2 million, say prosecutors and Cunningham owed $385,077 in taxes.

Cunningham, an eight-term congressman, announced in July that he wouldn't seek re-election next year. The former Vietnam War flying ace is known on Capitol Hill for his interest in defense issues and his occasional temperamental outbursts.

He drew little notice outside his San Diego-area district before the San Diego Union-Tribune reported last June that he'd sold the home to Wade.

In addition to buying Cunningham's home at an inflated price, Wade let him live rent-free on his yacht, the Duke Stir, at the Capital Yacht Club. His firm, MZM Inc., donated generously to Cunningham's campaigns. Prosecutors did not specify if those allegations were part of Cunningham's guilty pleas.

Around the same time, MZM was winning valuable defense contracts. Cunningham sits on the House Appropriations subcommittee that controls defense dollars. In 2004 the little-known company based in Washington, D.C., tripled its revenue and nearly quadrupled its staff, according to information posted on the company Web site before Wade stepped down as president and the company was sold to a private equity firm.

An associate of Wade, Brent Wilkes, president of a Poway company called ADCS Inc., also gave Cunningham campaign cash and favors. Wilkes reportedly flew Cunningham in a corporate jet to go hunting in Idaho and golfing in Hawaii, and a charitable foundation Wilkes started spent $36,000 hosting a black tie "Tribute to Heroes" gala in 2002 that feted Cunningham with a trophy naming him a hero.

ADCS, which specializes into turning paper records into digital files, has received tens of millions in Defense Department contracts since the late 1990s. In some years, lawmakers on Cunningham's spending panel added the money themselves, even scolding the Pentagon for not requesting it in the first place.

Unlike Wade and Wilkes, the third man federal investigators focused on, Thomas Kontogiannis, apparently wasn't in the defense business. Like them he had a mutually beneficial relationship with Cunningham.

Cunningham wrote to prosecutors in 2000 on behalf of Kontogiannis, a New York developer then under investigation in a bribery and kickback scheme involving school computer contracts. Two years later, Cunningham made $400,000 selling his 65-foot flat-bottom riverboat to Kontogiannis.

Also, a company run by Kontogiannis' nephew and daughter helped Cunningham finance a condominium in Alexandria, Va., and his house in Rancho Santa Fe.

Kontogiannis ultimately pleaded guilty to fraud charges. He told the San Diego Union-Tribune that Cunningham gave him advice on attorneys to contact to explore getting a presidential pardon.

_________________
"All facts go to clearly prove that Shades is a thrice-cursed traitor & mentally deranged person steeped in inveterate enmity toward mankind"


Last edited by JG300-Ascout on Mon Nov 28, 2005 2:59 pm; edited 2 times in total
Back to top
View user's profile Photo Gallery
JG300-Stoopy
Power User

Offline Offline
Joined: Jan 05, 2005
Posts: 5840
Location: Group W bench
PostPosted: Mon Nov 28, 2005 2:58 pm
Post subject: Re: VN ace gets splashed.....

OOps, that was me (who else!).

And you mean the man actually cried???

Sorry but being ashamed is one thing....remorse can be shown with some backbone and the determination that you'll make proper restitution and accept the appropriate, expected discipline for your misdeeds, without throwing tears. Nothing wrong with crying, I mean, for a tremendous loss beyond your control, but over confessing an intentional act of misconduct? Sorry, I think it's just out of place, he neds to friggin' buck up and have some strength over how he'll handle himself from now on. Crying just seems to suggest....I don't know.....further lack of integrity somehow, you know?

This just became even more dissapointing.

I know this is a Vet and it's not as much my place to say some of this as it is yours and others.....but this just sounds completely out of character from someone with his background.

_________________
"Once your reputation is ruined, you can live quite freely."
Back to top
View user's profile Visit poster's website Photo Gallery
JG300-Stoopy
Power User

Offline Offline
Joined: Jan 05, 2005
Posts: 5840
Location: Group W bench
PostPosted: Mon Nov 28, 2005 3:05 pm
Post subject: Re: VN ace gets splashed.....

- Anonymous
.... but politicians are politicians first and it's all about who's greased palm is on.................................well since this isn't Kitty's bar.....................you know.


Well, like P.J. O'Rourke said......politicians are just people who can't work real jobs like everyone else.

After reading his allocution I guess he did stand up straight at the end (or tried to) and address his coming atonement, so I take back what I said about the crying I guess.

Its still just a shock. Go frikkin' figure!

_________________
"Once your reputation is ruined, you can live quite freely."
Back to top
View user's profile Visit poster's website Photo Gallery
JG300-Stoopy
Power User

Offline Offline
Joined: Jan 05, 2005
Posts: 5840
Location: Group W bench
PostPosted: Mon Nov 28, 2005 3:11 pm
Post subject: Re: VN ace gets splashed.....

He will be released on his own recognizance until a Feb. 27 sentencing hearing. He could receive a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison.


See? I told ya! Let's release someone capable of leaving the country at Mach 2+ on their own recognizance for three months. Yeah he'll come back and make good on the 1.8 Mil.....no 'flight risk' there...

Tennis Prison for sure for this guy.

_________________
"Once your reputation is ruined, you can live quite freely."
Back to top
View user's profile Visit poster's website Photo Gallery
JG300-Ascout
Power User

Offline Offline
Joined: Jan 05, 2005
Posts: 6257
Location: Cyberspace
PostPosted: Mon Nov 28, 2005 3:46 pm
Post subject: Re: VN ace gets splashed.....

- JG300-Stoopy
He will be released on his own recognizance until a Feb. 27 sentencing hearing. He could receive a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison.


See? I told ya! Let's release someone capable of leaving the country at Mach 2+ on their own recognizance for three months. Yeah he'll come back and make good on the 1.8 Mil.....no 'flight risk' there...

Tennis Prison for sure for this guy.



"...it was about then that ol' Boss Hawg caught up with one o' them Duke boys and throwed him in the hoosegow."

_________________
"All facts go to clearly prove that Shades is a thrice-cursed traitor & mentally deranged person steeped in inveterate enmity toward mankind"
Back to top
View user's profile Photo Gallery
JG300-Stoopy
Power User

Offline Offline
Joined: Jan 05, 2005
Posts: 5840
Location: Group W bench
PostPosted: Mon Nov 28, 2005 4:07 pm
Post subject: Re: VN ace gets splashed.....

- JG300-Ascout

"...it was about then that ol' Boss Hawg caught up with one o' them Duke boys and throwed him in the hoosegow."


Yeah, and you better keep an eye on things over there at Miramar or one of those F-18's is probably gonna be takin' off and jumpin' the border like the General Lee... Wink

_________________
"Once your reputation is ruined, you can live quite freely."
Back to top
View user's profile Visit poster's website Photo Gallery
JG300-Ascout
Power User

Offline Offline
Joined: Jan 05, 2005
Posts: 6257
Location: Cyberspace
PostPosted: Mon Nov 28, 2005 4:08 pm
Post subject: Re: VN ace gets splashed.....

- JG300-Stoopy
- JG300-Ascout

"...it was about then that ol' Boss Hawg caught up with one o' them Duke boys and throwed him in the hoosegow."


Yeah, and you better keep an eye on things over there at Miramar or one of those F-18's is probably gonna be takin' off and jumpin' the border like the General Lee... Wink


Just gotta' listen for the horn playing "Dixie"!

_________________
"All facts go to clearly prove that Shades is a thrice-cursed traitor & mentally deranged person steeped in inveterate enmity toward mankind"
Back to top
View user's profile Photo Gallery
JG300-Stoopy
Power User

Offline Offline
Joined: Jan 05, 2005
Posts: 5840
Location: Group W bench
PostPosted: Mon Nov 28, 2005 4:13 pm
Post subject: Re: VN ace gets splashed.....

Allright, now I can't get the images of Daisy out of my mind....I hope you're happy! I know I sure am......

_________________
"Once your reputation is ruined, you can live quite freely."
Back to top
View user's profile Visit poster's website Photo Gallery
JG300-Ascout
Power User

Offline Offline
Joined: Jan 05, 2005
Posts: 6257
Location: Cyberspace
PostPosted: Mon Nov 28, 2005 4:30 pm
Post subject: Re: VN ace gets splashed.....

- JG300-Stoopy
Allright, now I can't get the images of Daisy out of my mind....I hope you're happy! I know I sure am......


Just "Google" for pictures of Catherine Bach today....you'll soon get over it.

_________________
"All facts go to clearly prove that Shades is a thrice-cursed traitor & mentally deranged person steeped in inveterate enmity toward mankind"
Back to top
View user's profile Photo Gallery
Display posts from previous:   
Post new topic    Revive this topic    Printer Friendly Page    Forum Index ›  Officer's Club
Page 1 of 2
All times are GMT - 6 Hours
Go to page 1, 2  Next

Archive Revive
Username:
This is an archived topic - your reply will not be appended here.
Instead, a new topic will be generated in the active forum.
The new topic will provide a reference link to this archived topic.