I received a response today from the Justice Department to my request under the Freedom of Information Act for former Congressman Randy “Duke” Cunningham’s petition for clemency from President Bush. I’ve written about this here.
The Office of the Pardon Attorney withheld Cunningham’s clemency application as well as correspondence from his attorney, James B. Craven III. They did, however, provide some letters written on Cunningham’s behalf, which I have posted here. Some of these letters were written before Cunningham asked President Bush to commute his sentence in December 2007.
Cunningham, a Republican who represented the San Diego-area for 15 years, is the most corrupt congressman in history. He is serving a 100-month sentence for taking millions of dollars in bribes from two defense contractors. Cunningham was also the first flying ace of the Vietnam War. As the letters show, he is still a hero to some.
I’d like to hear your thoughts about this. Please leave a comment below.
NOT ” the most corrupt congressman in history.” Please.
He is a dumb as. Yes. Does deserve a pardon though.
No pardon.
I pulled two tours in country (in other words I pulled both Bush’s and Cheney’s tours since both were too ch*ckensh*t to serve).
I am disgusted with Cunningham’s behavior.
He got what he deserved. He cried like a little girl on camera as the marshals took him away in handcuffs.
Interestingly the US Atty who prosecuted Cunningham was fired by Bush because she….wait for it….prosecuted Cunningham.
Of course Bush probably will pardon Cunningham on his last day in office.
To those who say Randy Cunningham is the most corrupt, Just ake a look at the many hundreds of Senators and Congressmen/women that have gotten away with more. For instance Ted Kennedy the biggest waste of skin alive Drown a woman and was never brought to justice. I served with Randy Cunningham in the Navy when I was a young LTjg pilot and I look at him no different today as he was as a Navy CDR.
While the Duke was eating steak and ice creame back on his carrier I was “duking” it out mano y mano with viet cong and main force N. Vietnamese army units–not for the 10 hours or so that the Duke spent in combat but for about 8,000 hours. No steak or ice creme either nor clean sheets to sleep under each night. The Duke’s worst crime was not taking bribes but trying to destroy the careers of honest career government employees who got in his way–despicable. He was full of himself–arrogant beyound belief–he deserves every single day in prison of his 100 month sentence. Lt. Col. USMC (ret)
Don’t do the crime, if you can’t do the time! Throw the key away!
Punishment should be me harrassing him!
When I would see Duke and Irish heading for one of our aggressor aircraft at Top gun N.F.W.S I would try to always be there for the pre -flight and do a last minute check on the egress system before the launch, to me it was special to be associated with these MIG KILLERS, they were no nonsense and made a good team, they are both the best that the Navy had over North Vietnam at the time, in fact I couldnt think of a name for my new pedigree Boxer dog so I took the liberty of naming him DUKE after a fighter pilot that I know and respect, Hope to see you two together soon on the U.S.S. Midway, and yes I think a Pardon is in order for Randy( Duke) Cunningham.
as an ex fighter pilot most have very high honor/principals… to use political position to take bribes is disgusting
pese let mr cunningham see this commen
i used to love to watch on the military channle duke discribe his encounters in the sky over vietnam. inever got board from hearing it over and over. now when i see him on any channel i change it to something else. how could he do the things he did? he disgraced himself,our military,and our country. should he be pardoned? NO!
Sounds to me like their is so much jealousy from all the crap talking ACE wanta be’s. You look in the mirror. There you will see a dishonest person and a liar. Leave Randy alone. He served his country and he did it well. He will always be the first ACE of the Vietnam war like it or not. There have been many more politicians that have done worse and have hardly done any time. Randy is a fighter pilot in a prisoner of war camp. ad far as I am concerned His survival instincts will help him survive the prison stupidity and abuse.
We Americans don’t like our heroes to become tarnished. He has served half his sentence. Let’s forgive him and move on. He will remain disgraced for the rest of his life. Let that be enough.
Enough! This man is a national hero . . also a human being subject to all the weakness of any of us . . . release him immediately.
100 months seems excessive considering the bilking of the American public by Nancy Pelosi. I can see where a politician would become wrapped up in power and money and we have plenty of examples serving us now. This man is an American hero who screwed up and deserves a second chance to make a new life for himself and his family, if he still has one.
Let Duke out now , He is long over due, He paid plenty for his sins.
piece of trash, he was suppose to represent the people, a thug who says he is a thug is better than one who claims to be looking out for you. let him rot.
This man is a war hero! His only crime was his stupid greed
which does not justify the harsh punishment issued by leftwing traitorous loons. There are members of congress on
the left that openly flaunt their dishonest actions with impunity. This will bite them in the ass and the nation will not continue to tolerate the crap from 12.75 per cent
of the population. Majority will always rule.