November 28, 2005

By Democratic National Committee Communications (View author info)

Today, Congressman Randy "Duke" Cunningham pleaded guilty to tax evasion and conspiracy, after accepting $2.4 million in bribes in return for political favors on behalf of a defense contractor. He also resigned from the House of Representatives.

"Duke Cunningham may be the latest senior Republican member of Congress to lose his way, but sadly he won't be the last one to fall from grace, and his behavior is a symptom of a greater problem: the culture of corruption that the GOP has made its trademark in Washington and throughout the country," said Democratic National Committee Communications Director Karen Finney. "Cunningham is just one more example of a Party that has lost its moral compass and replaced it with a treasure map of personal and special interest gain.

"Americans want honesty in government and elected officials who fight for them. America can do better. Democrats are committed to restoring honesty and transparency in the Democratic process, and to ensuring that every elected official is held to the highest ethical standards."

Cunningham's guilty plea follows former GOP aide and super-lobbyist Michael Scanlon's plea bargain in a case following another corruption investigation, the indictments of former GOP House Majority Leader Tom DeLay on money laundering charges, the ongoing investigation into GOP Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist's possibly illegal insider trading, the indictment of Vice President Dick Cheney's Chief of Staff on perjury charges, the ongoing investigation of senior White House officials over the leak of a covert CIA operative's name in a time of war, and numerous other scandals in GOP-led state governments throughout the country.

SOURCE: Democratic National Committee: www.democrats.org.

Related link:

Findlaw: The Charges: Conspiracy To Commit Crimes Against the United States

Findlaw: The Plea Agreement to plead guilty

NOTES: Homeowners have reported that the Congressman have always ignored their requests to investigate corruption, fraud and and theft of their homes by homeowner association lawyers in his San Diego district.